Wire Hanging Baskets Continued from Last week

By: Pamela Nobles
8/14/08

Continuing from last week, before rushing out to purchase these wrought-iron hanging baskets, you’ll want to determine the size for spacing in the area you choose to hang it. And, too, remember that only a large container, generally 16 inches in diameter or more, can readily sustain a large and dramatic collection of plants. Be careful not to overwhelm smaller baskets with a nursery cart full of plants which is a very common failing and is very easy to do! Containers less than 14 inches in diameter should only host a handful of your favorites. Maybe two or three of the same variety, however; using different types will enhance your container. To provide texture and visual contrast you might want to include some trailing foliage plants, like ivy or asparagus fern. Even smaller pots might only support a single plant, so pick something exuberant and colorful. For example, by combining a long-blooming period variety with a cascading form, such as variegated ivy geraniums or trailing verbenas, like the aptly named ‘Babylon’ variety creates a great display. For larger containers, select a "portfolio" of plants with similar requirements for sun, moisture, and feeding. Your hanging basket is a community, and no one plant should dominate the others or exhaust all of the water and nutrients. Shady locations should get shade-loving plants, sunny site, sun-lovers. And think of your hanging garden as a living floral arrangement. Depending on your taste and personality, you might choose a harmonious grouping of plants, such as soothing lavender and purple, blended with vines and foliage of green and silver. Or you might like the energy of contrasting a variety of hot, bright colors bursting out in all directions, and uniting the red, orange, yellow, and white blooms with gold, grey, and green foliage plants, such as the variegated Swedish ivy, and pineapple mint, or lacy leaves of Artemisia. The arrangement you ultimately decide on should also favor blends of textures and growth habits, such as taller geraniums and salvias, mounding petunias, annual vincas, begonias, and cascading multi-hued million bells, blush-purple Scaevola, or tried-and-true lobelia and sweet alyssum. You may also choose coleus and caladiums, since they come in such wide variety of colors. For any questions, feel free to contact me at 592-2522 and I will gladly assist you. Til’ next time! Be blessed, Pamela