Create Hanging Baskets of Bloom

If you see a really good-looking young man tending to the monster-sized flower baskets hanging around the Prescott courthouse, go up and say “Hi”. He is my son, James, the third generation to work in our family garden center. The many accolades and positive feedback generated by the baskets are really appreciated. They’re especially gratifying with James caring for my creations that have brought so much pleasure to so many. The extra-large baskets were grown especially for the downtown area, but can be downsized to bring the same look and feel to your courtyard, patio, deck, and/or entryway.

Creating successful hanging baskets comes down to four things: container size, the perfect soil mix, the right watering schedule, and the appropriate plant food. Let’s start with the most important of these elements, the soil. As soil is the largest variable in gardening yet has the greatest effect on plant growth, it’s no surprise that using the right soil blend makes a huge difference in a hanging garden’s success. The best soil must be lightweight, drain well, and have good water retention properties. I have found that because of our windy and arid climate getting the correct planting mix is difficult. For an entire season I experimented with different soils and finally settled on our current grower’s mix. Amendments and additives should not be needed if the planting medium is right, and our grower’s mix is the perfect blend; it can be put into a basket and planted in directly.
The secret is the right combination of peat moss, organic compost, perlite, and a mild organic fertilizer. I am such a strong believer in the right soil mix that at my garden center I only stock the one my grower created. When you find a formula that works, stick with it.

Many of my customers mistakenly choose small containers to hang.

Use small baskets and you become a watering slave. With larger baskets your plants are happier and so are you. Some folks like to hang containers other than baskets. Wood is good, but the bottoms rot out in only a few seasons. The fancy new foam pots are decorative and easy to move, but it has been my experience that they dry out too quickly. Metal or plastic are lightweight, but I tend to over water these in every season except summer.

Most plants revel in summer’s heat. However, high temps require a closer watch on watering. Containers can dry out and once root balls shrink in size they are difficult to rehydrate. The proper watering schedule now through September is a daily exercise unless we have an afternoon rain. Even then it wouldn’t hurt to give these baskets a drink early each morning. Add water until you see it flowing from the bottom.

Food can be a tricky issue and I think the difficulty is compounded by too many choices. I like to use a 7-4-4 all-natural granular plant food in my baskets. In fact, this is the only plant food I use for anything in my yard. The advantage of a granular food over the kind mixed with water is the period of time it feeds the plants. As you water each day a little food is released, feeding plants for weeks and even months. An organic food is better for the environment and unlikely to burn plants from over-fertilizing.

There you have the four basics that make for a successful, gorgeous hanging basket. The only remaining task is selecting the plants and flowers. Envision a basket composed of multiple layers; it’s too easy to have one-dimensional, flat, boring baskets. Start with a tall plant at the back or center of the container; I like a guara, tall grasses, dahlias, or a carpet rose. The rest of the basket can be filled with cascading plants like wave petunia, verbena, alyssum, calibrachoa, geranium, and ivy. Have fun as you compose a mix of your favorite shapes and colors. There are no rules to this part of creating a hanging basket. Just be sure the plants are happy together in sun or shade.

This final bit of advice will make you look like a design genius: Ignore the plant spacing recommended on the plant tags. Plants in a hanging basket should be placed so they touch foliage to foliage as they are planted. No soil should be showing when planting is complete. Neighbors and friends should come over and believe your new basket has been growing for months. In reality, your pretty garden project may have been completed just hours ago.

Designers at your favorite garden center love putting unique plant combinations together so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. There is an art to design, but don’t be intimidated if you think your talents are limited. Keep in mind that colorful blooms will mask a multitude of mistakes.

Until next week, I’ll see you at the garden center.