Keep Your Hanging Baskets Looking Good in Summer

A hanging basket full of beautiful blooms and cascading colour is one of the easiest and most effective ways of making your home look glorious, whether it’s sprucing up your patio, porch or garden. But many gardeners struggle to keep their hanging baskets thriving throughout summer, particularly those that are planted in springtime. Here, gardening experts at Phostrogen® share some simple tips and tricks to keep your hanging baskets blossoming for months.

Position carefully

One of the most overlooked elements of hanging baskets is the location of the basket itself. Just as you would with any other flower in your beds and borders, it is important to consider the type of plant and its requirements. A basket full of shade-dwelling fuchsias or begonias placed in direct sunlight will quickly wilt, and equally, placing sun-loving plants like petunias in the shade will mean they soon fade, too.

The elements also play a significant factor in the success of your hanging baskets, so ensure you choose an area that is sheltered from the wind. Not only will protecting flowers from strong gusts reduce the risk of the basket falling and protect delicate blooms from being blown away, but it will also reduce the amount of watering required. Of course, ensure the hanging basket is securely fixed to the wall, fence or hook – baskets can become heavy after a good watering, so it’s important it is safely attached.

Don’t forget to rotate your hanging basket every so often to avoid plants growing unevenly and be sure to prune back leggy growth for a beautiful display. Deadhead regularly to encourage repeat blooms and allow your plant to flourish all throughout the summer.

Water deeply

Plants in pots, containers and baskets dry out much more quickly than plants in beds and borders, so it’s important to keep an eye on your hanging baskets throughout the summer. You’ll know if your hanging basket is in need of watering when the soil looks dry and it feels much lighter in weight than usual. Don’t forget that smaller baskets will dry out more quickly than larger baskets, so pay special attention to them.

During hot spells, water your hanging baskets more regularly than you would normally - once a day is usually advisable, but if it is particularly hot or windy you may need to water them twice a day. It is best to water early in the morning and late in the evening to prevent water evaporating throughout the warm days. Never water your plants during full sun or in the middle of the day, as strong, direct sunlight can burn them!

Water hanging baskets generously until it streams through the drainage holes of the container. If you don’t water your hanging baskets enough, the plants won’t develop a strong root system which happens when they go in search for water at a deeper level, and instead becomes dependent on the surface water provided.

Feed regularly

Water is not the only essential element that plants need, so it’s important to invest in a quality fertiliser. Potting soil contains nutrients to help plants grow, but the compost soon becomes exhausted as the plants absorb the goodness that they need, so these need to be replaced regularly to help your plants thrive.

Fertilisers comprise of several key elements to help your plants thrive, including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium Iron and Magnesium, which promotes healthy green foliage and an abundant of flowers, as well as helps plants become more drought resistant and develop a healthy root system.

There are a variety of fertilisers and forms to choose from, but ideally you would choose a water-soluble fertiliser or slow-release granular fertilisers. Liquid fertilisers, such as Phostrogen® All Purpose Liquid Plant Food, are easy to use by simply diluting a cap full into a watering can and generously watering around the roots as usual, or you can opt for granules such as Phostrogen® All Purpose Plant Food, which are applied directly around the base of the plants and lightly hoed in before watering.

Content provided by: Phostrogen®