a magical day in the life of

***the hanging basket***

and not feeling that well this morning..... so will leave going into work today... thank goodness my lady that I garden for doesn't mind that I go in tomorrow.... so will put together this little hanging basket tutorial for Kali and Gem


Step 1....decide on basket size and plants...min of 18 inches dia...20in is better.. though choose the size suitable for where you want it to go) and pre line with coco mat....moss or pre shaped liner.....

(place an upright pot underneath your basket if it's a hanging one it helps

with height and manoeuvrability)

Step 2...line top of moss liner with plastic cut into a circle...i.e. an empty compost bag works perfectly...cut into shape and put in coloured side up...

Step 3...pierce several drainage holes about 1/3 rd the way up from bottom...this serves as a little reservoir for the watering....

Step 4...place in a good quality compost...(nothing cheap as plants won't thrive)....about 1/2 to 2/3 rds full then add some Swell Gel (water retaining).. granules and slow release plant pellets.....mix lightly keeping compost airy...

Step 5...fill almost to top with remaining compost and mix lightly again...now the fun bit....

Step 6...plant your plants evenly spaced around the edge of basket (for an 18 in basket about 5 small plants...remember always odd numbers never even) ..firming the compost gently around each root ball and add something a little taller for the middle i.e.geranium....lobelia....bacopa

fushia...marigolds...whatever is suitable for the position of basket...sun...shade etc...it is too late for me now to show draping plants as all have gone...however surfinia (trailing petunia), trailing lobelia, trailing geraniums, etc are all suitable depending on sun or shade positions.......

Step 7... hang..... then water well....make sure wall bracket is long enough so basket doesn't touch the wall.....

Step 8....lie back with a Pimms No 1 and watch your baskets grow....p.s. it is very important to get the watering right....too much and the plants rot...too little and the plants stress or die...the finger test is the best...moist for the best choice......hope this has helped some of you ...once established....plants in hot north facing walls will need watering EVERY day......

some I did a little earlier (well a few months earlier)

same principle applies to wall baskets

so all my little aphids have a lovely spring planting frenzy and I would love to see all your beautiful baskets....please let me know if you are not sure about anything.....toodleoooooooo