PLANTING
Thriller, filler, spiller
The RHS suggests a mix of showy plants, bushy fillers and trailers to soften the edges. Planting through the sides makes the basket look full sooner.
Plant one
WHAT THE RHS ADVISES
Hang it high,
water it slow.
A hanging basket is a garden in the air.
Raised off the ground, it dries out faster than any border and loses water out of the bottom. RHS advice and research come back to the same idea: plant it full, water it slowly and check it every day in summer.
160 ML can be enough a day
Pick a basket- Thriller, filler, spiller
- Water slowly
- Lift to check
- Fuller baskets, less water wasted
THE SHORT ANSWER
Plant it full,
water it gently.
Most basket problems come down to water.
Three habits fix most of them.
WATERING
Slowly, not a soaking
RHS research found baskets can survive on as little as a teacup of water a day, about 160 ml, and that overwatering is likely to lead to poor plants.
See the numbers
WINTER
A second season
Plant winter baskets of violas, cyclamen, ivy and heathers between September and November. They dry out more slowly and do not need feeding.
Pick a basket
FOUR STEPS TO A FULL BASKET
From empty frame
to full bloom.
The RHS method, cut down to four steps. You need a basket, a liner, peat-free multipurpose compost, plants and a short pot to stand the basket on.
Line it
Stand the basket on a short, wide pot. Line it with coir, jute or a layer of moss from your lawn about 1.5 cm thick.
Plant the sides
Cut holes in the liner at least 10 cm up from the base. Wrap root balls in newspaper and push them through from the outside.
Plant the top
Put trailing and short plants around the edge and taller ones in the middle, with the compost just below the rim.
Water slowly, then hang
Water gently through a fine rose before hanging. Then lift or nudge it each day: if it feels light, it needs water.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Less water,
in the right place.
Two findings from RHS watering research,
as reported by the RHS water scientist.
160 ml
What a basket can survive on
An RHS study suggested baskets and containers can survive on a teacup of water a day, just 160 ml or 6 fl oz, with overwatering likely to lead to poor quality plants.
DAILY WATER · RHS RESEARCH
5 cm
Depth that improved plant quality
The same research found water applied 5 cm below the surface, through drippers in the sides of containers, increased plant quality even when the top of the compost was dust-dry.
WHERE TO WATER · RHS RESEARCH
In 2019 the RHS began trialling 10 different watering techniques on hanging baskets to find how to get good flowering with minimum water.
A QUICK BASKET CHECK
Which basket
suits you?
Pick a type of basket to see when to plant it and how it is looked after. The bar shows how much routine care it needs.
Based on RHS advice on hanging baskets. Timings are for typical UK conditions.
SAVING WATER
Catch what
runs through.
If water pours out of the bottom, it takes soluble nutrients with it. A pot or bucket under the basket catches the run-off so you can pour it back, saving water and feed.
Do not count on rain: baskets often hang under gutters or porches. Covering the compost with foliage, choosing drought-tolerant plants and using a good peat-free compost all help the basket hold its moisture.
Questions
Questions people ask
When should I plant a summer hanging basket?
The RHS suggests planting summer bedding baskets towards the end of May or early June, ready to hang out once all risk of frost has passed. You can plant from late April if you can protect them from frost.
How often should I water a hanging basket?
Check it every day in summer and water unless the compost is already moist. Lifting or nudging the basket is an easy test: if it feels really light, it needs water.
Can I overwater a hanging basket?
Yes. Water that runs out of the bottom washes out the nutrients plants need to flower, and RHS research suggests overwatering is likely to lead to poorer quality plants.
What if the compost has dried out completely?
Very dry compost is hard to rewet. Add water slowly so it can soak in, and stand a bucket underneath to catch what runs through and pour it back.
Should I feed a winter hanging basket?
No. The RHS advises against it, because feeding can encourage soft new growth that is easily damaged by frost. Summer bedding and edibles benefit from occasional liquid feeds from April to September.
Sources
- RHS Advice: Hanging baskets
- RHS Advice: How to plant a hanging basket
- Inverness Courier: Royal Horticultural Society offers tips on watering your hanging baskets (2019)
- The Irish News: Will your hanging basket survive on a glass of water a day? (2019)
Updated