Chances are when you think “container garden,” you picture pretty pots arranged beautifully at ground level. But why stop there? Take your container garden to a new level by hanging planters or tacking some decorative containers onto a wall. By going “up,” you’ve got a host of new opportunities to add color, attract attention and express your personal gardening style – vertically.
Even simple hanging baskets add vibrant color that can last all season.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Use hanging plants in open garden spaces to add complementary textures.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Tim Butler
Hanging a colorful container along vertical surfaces breaks up the monotony of a facade, adds interest and draws the eye to interesting architectural features of your home.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Doug Dealey
Just think of all the places you can add hang planters for added color and texture: sidewalls, door openings, tree branches, verandas and arbors (just to name a few). On the practical side, plants suspended at waist or eye level are often easier to water and care for than those in or on the ground. And you just may be able to spot pests and diseases earlier when they’re staring right at you. Raised plantings are also great for gardeners with physical limitations and for folks who would prefer not to crouch or dirty their knees.
A major consideration of hanging plants, of course, is their weight. Even when using lightweight wire baskets, moss and soil mix, a fully planted and watered container can be hefty. Always make sure you use durable chains, hooks and wires, as well as heavy-duty fasteners. And safely secure baskets to strong structural components, such as the beams of a covered porch, deck posts or the studs of a sidewall or doorframe.
Of course, there are many other details to take into consideration when adding any kind of hanging planter to your garden. Probably first and foremost is the type of planter to use and where to put it. The key is to make sure your container of choice enhances your space and stays in scale with it.
There are several types of hanging planters available. One of the most popular is the open-wire variety that’s made of medium-gauge metal mesh. This type allows wide gaps and permits trailing plant to grow through the sides and bottom. (Most hanging basket plantings quickly grow to eventually obscure the container, climbing over and draping down from it, offering lots of lush color and beauty all season long.)
One of the many virtues of growing and displaying hanging baskets is that they can be planted year-round, providing colorful blooming sentries for an entry, lining the eaves of a covered porch or brightening an arbor or gazebo. Perhaps best of all, hanging planters are simple to create. And with the right choice of plantings, they’re equally simple to maintain – with a few special considerations. (For example, the airflow through an open mesh basket tends to dry out soil and plants quickly – especially in sunny sites subject to summer breezes.)
Creating hanging planters is quite similar to planting any other container. Some hanging baskets are only open on top, while others are open all around – allowing you to “plant” through sphagnum moss to create a “living basket.” For easy step-by-step instructions on creating your own beautiful hang-up, just follow the easy steps shown in the pictures and described in their captions.
Once you’ve finished creating your basic planting, fill in the rest of the basket with a wide variety of annuals and perennials, adding more soil as you go. (Petunias and impatiens are popular for their color and are well-suited to hanging baskets, as are climbers such as ivy-leaved geraniums, which can grow up the hanging chain.) Whatever planting combination you choose, keep in mind varying bloom times and hardiness. That way you’ll always have a lush garden to enjoy at eye level – no matter how you hang ’em.
Hanging Basket - Step 1
Gather your materials, including the plants, proper soil mix, sphagnum moss, a thin piece of sheet plastic or basket liner, and the container itself (here, an open wire variety, complete with a hanging chain and sturdy fasteners).
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser
Hanging Basket - Step 2
Dampen the moss so that it’s soft and flexible, and line the container frame with it. Then add a layer of plastic sheeting, hiding its edges. If you plan to insert plants through the body of the container so that they’ll dangle and trail from the sides, make small slits in the plastic and moss for the plants to fit through.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser
Hanging Basket - Step 3
Add soil mix to the basket, filling the container nearly to the top. Firm the soil by pressing down with the flat of your palms.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser
Hanging Basket - Step 4
Make an opening in the soil with your hands so you can add your plants. Trailing species belong along the outside rim of the container, while others should go in the center. Select plants with similar root growth to avoid crowding.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser
Finished Hanging Basket
Make an opening in the soil with your hands so you can add your plants. Trailing species belong along the outside rim of the container, while others should go in the center. Select plants with similar root growth to avoid crowding.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Kyle Chesser
