Amateur Gardening – 21 May 2019

11 MAY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 43

1

Standthebasketframeonan

emptypot.Nestlethelinerinto

theframe,tuckin ortrimoffexcess,

placea circleofplasticin thebase

and fill about a third with compost.

2

Cut2x2in(5x5cm)crosses

throughtheliner,evenlyspaced

allround,atthelevelofthelowest

tierofplants.Wrapthefoliageofa

plant firmly in a roll of newspaper.

3

Easethepaper-wrapped

foliagethroughthecrosscut

untiltherootballsitsagainstthe

liner.Removethepaper.Repeat

forallotherplantsonthistier.Add

another one-third of compost.

4

Plantthenexttierin thesame

way,positioningcrosscuts/

rootballsaboveandbetweenthe

tierbelow.Topupwithcompost

and then plant the basket top.

Plant a

hanging

basket

Step

by step

Hanging baskets

do’s & don’ts

Do

✓Preparewithcare,gatheringeverythingyouneedto

completethebasketbeforestarting.

✓Calculatethenumberofplantsyou’llneedforthesize

ofbasket.Alarge16in(40cm)basketwith

ofplants twosidetiers

willtakearound 20 plants.

✓Addslow-releasefertiliserandwater-retainingcrystals

toordinarymultipurposeorpottingcomposts.

✓Begenerouswiththenumberofplantsyoupackin,

bothfora spectacular display and to hide the basket.

DonÕt

✗Usesoil-baseJohnInnescompostasitisveryheavy,

Choosepeat-based,orpeat-freewood

composts fibreorcoir

thatarelight.

✗Skimponthebracket.Buyastrong,good-quality

bracketoftherightsize,andmountitsecurely.

✗Tryplantingupabasketwithoutstandingitsecurely

onasuitablysizedemptyplantpot.

✗Hangyourbasketoutsideuntilfrostshavefinished.

Standitonitspotinthe^

greenhouse or a bright,

sheltered, frost-free spot.

The language of hanging baskets

Hangingloop:

Metalloopat thetop of the chain.

Bracketarm:

Horizontalextensionfrombracket

withhook at end to take the hanging

loop.

Bracket:

Padmadefromsteel,wroughtiron

orwoodcarryinga strongbracket

arm and drilled for fixing to a wall

Basket:

Frameorbowlmadeof metalwire,

wroughtiron or rigid plastic.

Liner:

Ashapedpieceof fabricorformed

coirthatfitssnugly inside the basket.

Chains:

Strongmetallinkchains,clipped

evenlyspacedaround the edge of

the basket.

Addslow-release

fertiliserandwater-

retaining crystals

Placealargespecimen

plant in the centre

Placethebasket

on a pot

Mountthebracket

securely

rollof newspaperfirmlyaroundthe
foliageof oneof yourplants,andthread
it carefullythroughtheholefromthe
insideof thebasketuntiltherootball
nestlesonthecompostandagainst
theliner.Removethepaperwrap.
Cutmorecrossholes,evenlyspaced,
aroundthebasketandinsertplantsas
aboveuntilyou’vecompletedthefirst
tier.Topupthebasketwithcompostto
justbelowthelevelof thenexttier,and
setplants,evenlyspacedaroundthe
basket locating them above and

betweentheringof plantsbelow.Fill

with compost to just below the rim.

Finishingtouchandhanging

Seta largespecimenplantin thecentre

of thebasket,thenmorebedding/trailing

plantsaroundtheedgelocatingtheir

rootballsbetweentherootballsof the

topsidetier.Reconnectthehanging

chainclips.Movethebasketonitspot

standontotheground,waterit well

andthenletit drain.Positionyourstep

ladder, then, with care, hang your basket.