Whether they greet your guests at the front door or brighten up your porch or patio, every home has room for a lush, beautiful hanging basket. Here are my tips for keeping your hanging baskets healthy and blooming all summer long:

First, determine the light conditions the basket will receive in your selected location. Some plants thrive in full sun and some require lots of shade. Check with a horticulturist at Hoerr Nursery for advice on selecting appropriate plants for your basket.

Second, purchase healthy plants; choose ones with multiple stems for prolific growth. Trailing plants are ideal for hanging baskets. Some plants to consider include ivy, geranium, verbena, sweet potato vine, million bells, petunias, browallia, and many others. Click here to view our selection of annuals in Plant-o-Pedia.

       
            Petunia                              Verbena                     Sweet Potato Vine

Third, assemble your basket! Planting hanging baskets is as easy as any potted plant, but there are a few tips to follow to keep your flowers growing:

• A key element to any successful gardening project is quality soil! Since hanging baskets can dry out very quickly, choose a moisture-control potting soil such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control.
• Make sure your basket is at least 14 inches in diameter – this will ensure your plants will have adequate soil and moisture. If your basket dries out completely, submerge it in water and let it absorb as much as it can handle - this will boost its chances of recovery.
• Keep your plants fertilized with a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote. This fertilizer is activated and released at every watering.
• By mid July, cut back the plants to encourage growth and add more slow release fertilizer to keep your baskets looking great! Be sure to rotate the basket so that all sides receive adequate light.

Remember - if you don’t have time to assemble your own, you can come in and view our huge selection of hanging baskets, or have one of our associates create a custom basket for you!

Happy Spring!

Ella