How’s it Hangin'?
Growing in garden beds and pots is the popular way forward for many gardeners however today we are putting the spotlight on hanging pots. Hanging baskets and pots are often overlooked but they can be an excellent addition to your garden. Not only are they space saving and attractive they are also excellent for deterring many pests. Hang around and learn more about these beauties below.
What Can I Grow In Hanging Baskets?
The sky is the limit – literally! There are so many types of plants you can grow in hanging baskets; your main limits will be the size of the basket and root depth. The following plants are an excellent place to start:
- Leafy herbs such as parsley, coriander, and mint. These all thrive in pots and planters, so hanging baskets are also a no-brainer.
- Hardier herbs, including thyme and oregano. These perennial varieties may like a larger basket to stretch out and grow. As a bonus, thyme and oregano are trailing varieties so they can spill over the edge.
- Leafy greens, including lettuce - choose loose leaf varieties that can gradually be harvested, baby spinach (try Lazio f1), rocket and cress.
- Trailing flowers such as nasturtiums, alyssum, lobelia, portulaca and petunia. These look beautiful when the flowers begin to sprawl and hang over the sides of the pots, almost creating a waterfall effect.
- Strawberries are also the perfect plant for hanging baskets, keeping any runners confined to the pot and fruit off the ground where they can become snacks for critters. It makes for easy harvesting, too!
Types of Hanging Pots
There are a couple of main types of hanging baskets on the market. Most commonly, you will see wire baskets that are lined with coconut fibre to keep the soil inside. These are excellent for varieties that love good drainage, as they receive plenty of airflow to the roots. Think succulents, small cacti and hardy herbs like thyme and oregano. The liners need to be swapped out now and then, as a natural product, they eventually will start to break down and can be added into the compost and replaced.
Other materials include plastic or ceramic hanging pots. These are like traditional planter pots but have chains to hang them by. You can even get self-watering hanging baskets that have a reservoir at the bottom for those thirstier plants, for example, large leafed tropical varieties, leafy greens or ferns.
Why Choose Hanging Pots?
There are a few reasons hanging pots are a great choice for your garden, including:
Space saving- Hanging pots maximise vertical space, which is great for small gardens, patios and apartments.
Accessibility- These are great if you have mobility issues and struggle with traditional garden beds, as no bending is required. You can position pots at the right height for your needs so you can either sit or stand to plant and water them, now that’s a win!
Pest management- Keep those precious plants away from pesky critters such as snails and slugs with hanging pots. We find they are also great if you have possum or cat problems in your yard.
Tips and Tricks
For the best results with your hanging pots, consider the following,
Soil choice- It is best to use a commercial mix that is designed for containers and pots as soil from your garden will become very heavy when wet. For wire baskets lined with coco fibre be mindful that this extra airflow can mean the soil dries out faster so for those moisture loving plants try using something like Jiffy Quick Soil Pellets. The peat mix has a dense but fine structure with high water retention while still being relatively lightweight.
Accessories- To make it easier for you to water and move your plants around, make use of the Darlac Hi-Low. See it in action here!
Placement- Choose a sunny but protected spot for your hanging pots. Most plants will appreciate at least 6 hours of direct sunlight unless they are shade-tolerant varieties. It is best to keep the pots away from windy spots in the garden as they will tend to dry out faster.
Watering-Check your pots and baskets frequently during the warmer months and water often with a shower setting on your hose, ensuring the mix is completely saturated. To help you reach those higher pots, use an extending wand or better yet, a Darlac Hi-Lo, which allows you to effortlessly raise and lower pots without having to remove them off the hooks, perfect for when it comes to harvesting and planting too.
Fertilising- Hanging baskets and pots will benefit from regular fertilising, as frequent watering can leach nutrients from the soil. Try a combination of slow release fertiliser for ongoing nutrition and liquid feeds for quick boosts during the growing season.
Our last and final tip involves some creativity, as hanging pots are not only functional but beautiful, too. We particularly love these ideas:
- Hanging mixed salad and herb baskets. Try a theme such as a hanging pizza pot with basil seeds, tomato seeds (try cherry falls) and thyme seeds. Not only do these look great and make awesome gifts for the foodies in your life, but they can hang outside right near the back door or barbecue for easy access while you’re cooking.
- Petunia flower balls. This involves connecting two hanging baskets with some strong wire to create a sphere. You will need to use wire baskets for this, lined with coconut fibre. Once joined, cut a hole in the top of the coco fibre and fill the entire ball with potting mix. You can then carefully make holes across the sphere and plant out with your petunia seedlings, even upside down! Once the seedlings grow, the entire surface of the ball will be covered in a profusion of flowers. This can also work great for strawberries, creeping herbs, and other spreading flowers like alyssum.
