One of the most important jobs in the gardening calendar is preparing to fill your hanging baskets and tubs. There are no boundaries to container growing, which is why it has become so popular. The only restriction is on the size of the container but there is certainly no limit to the variety of pots and tubs – from terracotta, glazed, plastic, wicker, wooden, stone, wrought iron or zinc. Having chosen the type and size of pot or basket the next thing to decide on is the type of compost.
A good multi-purpose compost is one of quite a few types of compost available and it is the type of compost to use if you are going to feed your tubs and baskets with a liquid feed. Multi-purpose compost can also be improved by adding a slow release fertiliser called Osmocote. Osmocote is a quick and easy way of delivering vital plant nutrients where it matters, straight to the roots. They are clean and easy to use and give excellent results. One application will feed your plants everyday for up to six months and the nutrients are released at 6 degrees and above – when plants are growing actively.
For more than twenty- five years professional growers and horticulturists have been using Osmocote to feed their plants and it is only recently that it has been sold on the retail market. Controlled by temperature, the daily release of food matches the changing needs of the plants and avoids wasteful loss into the environment. Watergel or swell gel is another product that can be added to multi–purpose to improve its moisture containing ability. It comes in the form of dry crystals that are added to the compost and once it becomes wet it swells to absorbs several hundred times its own weight in water. The plants roots are able to draw water from the crystals as they grow but it is still important to water your basket or tub regularly to replenish the gel. Remember to follow the manufactures instructions when using water gel.
If all this sounds like hard work then there is a perfect solution. Container and Hanging Basket compost has both water gel and a high potash feed incorporated into the compost.
Another useful device to assist in watering your baskets is called a Hi-Lo. One end is attached to the hanging basket bracket while the other end is attached to the basket itself. It works on a simple locking system that allows you to raise and lower your basket to ease watering and deadheading your plants.
How to plant a hanging basket
Use a basket liner that is the appropriate size to fit your basket. The liner should have a plastic lining on the inside and place this side upwards in the basket. Line the bottom of the basket with moist compost to the depth of 5cm (2ins), adding fertiliser and watergel to the compost. Firm the compost. Insert trailing plants by carefully guiding their rootball through the sides of the basket and through the perforated holes in the liner. Make sure that the rootball is level with the compost. Trailing lobelia is a perfect plant to use at this stage. Add more compost around the roots and firm well. Fill the compost to within 2.5 – 5cms (1 –2ins) of the rim of the basket again mixing in fertilizer and watergel and insert a plant of an upright habit such as geranium, upright fuchsia or petunias, into the centre of the basket.
Then arrange more trailing plants around the edge of the basket. These may include trailing sufinas, bacopa,nepeta, verbena, brachycome and bidens. Plant these plants at a slight tilt towards the edge of the basket so that they are immediately starting to trail over the sides. Firm plants in well and top up with compost is necessary. Try to have the compost sloping towards the centre of the basket for efficient watering. Water the planted basket and allow to drain. Place in the glasshouse or frost-free airy room for ten to fourteen days to fill out. When weather is favourable place tubs and baskets in their permanent place. Water frequently and deadhead the faded blooms to encourage more flowers. As the summer progress check the plants for aphids, greenfly or whitefly and spray if necessary.
JOBS OF THE WEEK
* Plant up hanging baskets and hang in a well-light airy place until well established.
* Prune Spirea arguta or Bridal Wreath now as the flowers have faded but prune off only the dead flower heads.
* If the good weather continues plant out Sweet Pea, adding a general fertiliser when planting and a good slug control.
* Continue to tie in tomatoes and pinch out side shoots that appear.
