Intensive care required.

Hanging Baskets represent the most intensive gardening that any of us do.
The high density of planting in a Hanging Basket is such that we need to give them extra care and attention.

Watering is the biggest problem with a basket so add "Water Retaining Granules" to your Compost or use a Compost such as "Miracle-Gro Moisture Control" that has the granules already added.

Feeding is the next problem with so many plants in such a small volume of Compost so add "Slow Release Fertilizer" to your Compost.
Most of us tend to miss feeds and this erratic feeding doesn't give as good results as regular consistent feeding.
These granules release fertilizer slowly over a period of time so the plants are never short of feeding. Osmocote is the original and, I believe, still the best - certainly growers use it and they ought to know.

There is a tremendous range of plants available for hanging baskets nowadays - gone are the days when we only had Trailing lobelia, Fuchsias and Ivy Leafed Geraniums!
These Basket Plants may seem expensive compared to Trailing Lobelia but they grow into much larger plants and flower for much longer periods than Lobelia. Many of these plants could fill a basket on their own but are better planted in arrangements with each other. We stock over a 100 varieties.

A good basket will flower for months with its appearance changing as some flowers die back and others take over. Getting that balance is the art of the successful Hanging Basket.
Growers start their baskets much early than we do and they use plugs as they can get more into a basket. A professional Basket could have as many as 30 plants in it and will change appearance several times in the course of the season.

Good luck with your Basket!

Article provided by Ron from West Carlston Garden Centre in Torrance.

Ron can be contacted at info@westcarlston.com

This week's Competition: Name any variety of Trailing Fuchsia.

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