| Create
a Wire Hanging Basket
Project
Level: Beginner (what's
this?)
Whether your
space is limited or you just can’t seem to get enough flowers around
your house, a hanging basket may be the solution to your problem.
Lowe's is
happy to provide this information as a service to
you.
If you’re
considering a hanging basket, remember:
- Choose
your basket location so that it can be easily reached for watering and
pinching back or deadheading.
- Choose
plants
accordingly based on their preference for sun or shade.
- For visual
impact blooming plants are the best choice. Choose one color for maximum
effect or use a mix of colors and textures.
- A basket
of herbs is a useful, convenient, and attractive addition near the kitchen.
Hanging baskets dry out quicker than a regular container, so check the
water level daily. A watered basket can be heavy, so make sure it’s
hanging from a sturdy, secure hook. For ease of watering, invest in
a watering wand.
- You can
buy hanging baskets already potted at the garden center or make
one yourself.
Planting
a Wire Hanging Basket
Hanging containers
are available in many styles and materials. Wire baskets allow you to
have plantings on the side of the container, not just the top. For this
project, we’re using a 14-inch wire basket. To line the basket use
coconut fiber (also called coir), preformed plastic liners,
even burlap or wool — anything to hold the soil in
place inside the frame and allow moisture to pass through. The example
provided here uses another common lining material, sphagnum moss.
Before
planting:
- Buy the
moss, wire basket and potting mix.
- Select
plants with similar light and water requirements. Buy small plants.
They’re easier to insert into the moss.
- Soak the
moss overnight.
To plant
the basket:
(If you’ve
purchased a basket that’s already lined, skip to step number 3.)
- Press
a layer of moss into the bottom of the basket. Work your way up from
the inside. The layer needs to be 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick.
- If you
plan on planting the sides of the basket, stop about halfway up to make
planting the sides easier. If you’re using trailing plants, it’s
not necessary to plant on the sides, they will grow down to cover the
frame.
- Make slits
in the moss large enough to insert the plant and deep enough so that
it protrudes horizontally with the roots inside the basket. Work your
way around the basket as you place each plant. Put plants closer together
than you would plant them in the ground for a full look. Don’t
plant in a straight line around the sides. Offset the plants for a more
natural look.
- Fill the
sphagnum shell with potting mix. Since there’s only going to be
a small amount of soil in the planter - for optimal growth extra nutrients
need to be added. Add timed-release fertilizer pellets to the potting
mix. Tamp the soil lightly.
- When the
sides are complete, plant the top layer.
- Finish
filling the basket with soil, up to one inch from the top of the rim.
- Water
thoroughly.
Was this
information helpful? Please let
us know your do-it-yourself experiences. We'd love to hear from you!
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