Make a Giant Hanging Basket
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| Photo Credit: Lane Greer |
| Victoria’s harbor greets visitors with its gorgeous gigantic hanging baskets. |
When I visited Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, last year, I was amazed at the city’s incredibly large hanging baskets. And when I say large, I mean huge – as in, so big they could do some serious damage if they fell!
I couldn’t help but wonder just how these big beauties were made. After taking lots of pictures and staring up at the baskets for embarrassingly long periods of time (it’s not the first time passersby have thought me strange for staring at plants), I noticed that they were built in layers. Turns out that these giant baskets aren’t too difficult to make on your own. You just need a bit of adventure in your gardening soul and the right equipment. Here’s what you’ll need to get started: | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Lane Greer | | Lined baskets are available in different sizes, shapes and colors to fit any décor. |
● A big wire or metal basket. It should be at least 16 inches across and 10 inches deep. Some baskets have only vertical metal bars, while others have both vertical and horizontal bars – either will work, so just choose the one one you like best.
● Sphagnum moss (about 1 cubic foot) or a coconut fiber basket liner, often called cocoliners. (You can also use loose, long-fibered coconut fibers, but they’re not as easy to find.) | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Jenny Hooks | | You can find sphagnum moss at your local garden center. |
● Good potting mix. I recommend buying something with a low concentration of fertilizer, known as a starter charge. Nutrients can be supplied either by organic matter (like earthworm castings or compost) or inorganic fertilizer (like that found in many name-brand mixes). If you choose to use a potting mix without fertilizer, add a controlled-release fertilizer to it.
● And, obviously, you can’t forget the plants!
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| Warnings |
- Giant baskets are heavy, so hang them on a sturdy metal pole so they don’t fall and hurt something – or someone. If you’re using a wooden support, make sure it’s at least a 4x4 timber. (If you don’t have a strong support, just make a smaller basket using the same principles.)
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| Tips |
- Assemble your baskets as soon as you see plants in the garden center. If there’s a late frost, just pull them down and bring into your garage overnight.
- If you’d like, you can attach a plastic or metal pan underneath the basket to catch drip water. Just use coat hangers or thin pieces of wire to attach the pan to the bottom of your wire basket.
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| Facts |
- Sphagnum moss is not the same as peat moss. Sphagnum moss has long fibers that mesh together to provide support for the potting mix. Similarly, coconut fiber is not coir.
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| Faqs |
- Q: Does a giant hanging basket cost a lot to make?
A: They’re actually surprisingly affordable. A 16-inch basket can cost around (or less than) $10, and a cocoliner to fit inside costs about $7.50. Including plants, potting mix and fertilizer, you can make a really nice basket for about $50 – much less than what you’d pay for a customized or premade basket at a garden center or nursery!
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