I noticed a garden centre sign advertising an end of season sale this week. Just what season has ended? Spring, summer, fishing, grouse, who knows? I think the plant sellers are facing the same problem that I had last year. A few good weeks of sunshine and then dull wet weather. This means that the summer bedding grew really well and filled the pots. But now good weather is needed to motivate the public into buying the stock before it gets pot bound and beyond selling. I’m happy that I’m not growing bedding plants this year, as it gets a bit sad when you have to throw away hundreds of prized petunias onto the compost. So there should be bargains to be had in the garden centres though, as they want to shift their old stock to make way for the new arrivals. If you have hanging baskets, now would be a perfect time to start filling it up again for summer.
HANGING BASKETS.
I remember advising people in the past to keep the frost of their baskets over winter. There are usually a few plants, such as geraniums or ivies that will come back the following year. It made me chuckle when people complained that their plants had died over winter. I forgot to mention that if the baskets were put into a shed or garage they would need watering every so often. Six months without water would finish even the hardiest plant off! If you do have any plants that have survived, pull them out and check them very carefully for pests on the leaves or soil before you reuse them. You might have been first in the queue at the shops and bought yourself some spring plants for the baskets. If you have spring pansies or polyanthus, you will see that these are probably ready for pulling out so you can replace them with summer stock.
PLANTS FOR THE BASKETS.
You might be tempted to go for the baskets that are already filled in the garden centres. There might not be as many plants in them compared to baskets you make up yourself. Also the plants will probably be in full bloom so you won’t get as long a show of colour compared to making up your own. Choose plants that have a long flowering season to get the best out of the basket. Whichever plants you choose remember that they have been grown indoors and they will need a bit of protection against the elements for the first few days, so put them in a sheltered spot for a day or two. Try filling the basket with just one type of plant for a dramatic effect. Busy Lizzies; fuchsias or geraniums give a brilliant display until the first frosts. Avoid plants such as nemesia unless you can grow new plants at regular intervals as they only flower for a short period. Here are a few on offer that I found to be reliable in baskets:
Trailing lobelia. Very well behaved around the sides of the basket.
Pansies. The summer varieties will last all summer. Deadhead often, but save a few seed heads for planting up next spring.
Verbena. Loads to choose from here. Pick the trailing type and plant near the centre of the basket so they fill out before going over the edge. They take really easily from cuttings too.
Busy Lizzie. Bright display all summer. Again they root easily from cuttings.
Geranium. We’re spoilt for choice again with these. Upright or trailing, take your pick.
Bidens. These are very fast growing. They have yellow flowers and trail very well. Buncrana council use them to very good effect in their displays. Cuttings take very easily as well so don’t buy too many of them.
Helichrysum. These are grown for their silvery foliage. They trail very well and can be over wintered.
Begonia. Again, these will flower until the first frosts. The tuberous types can be over wintered.
When you are buying the plants try to buy the ones that aren’t in flower yet as these will give you a longer display. If you find yourself buying a plant that is pot bound then tease some roots out gently from around the root ball, this should help the plant to establish once it is planted into the basket.
CARE OF THE BASKET
Hanging baskets are very demanding things. Unless you have a very reliable relation, friend or neighbour you will not get a holiday in summer. Even on the driest days they will need watering at least twice a day. If you have a lot of baskets then you might like to consider a self-watering system. This will drip feed your baskets at a set time throughout the day and night by means of a twenty-four hour timer. For a regular house you could fit one of these systems for as little as 200 euro or less. You will be free all summer and the plants would thrive. A small price to pay I think.
When you fit the basket to the wall or a post, remember that they are heavy when full of water. Check the brackets are in good condition and that the chains are strong. The baskets can come down with a mighty bump.
If you do let the basket dry out then they are impossible to water in the normal manner, as the water will just run off the surface. Take the basket down and put it into a large container full of water. Leave it long enough until the basket starts to sink and pull it out. The basket is now fully watered.
Even if the basket has slow release fertiliser in it you will be well advised to still feed the plants at regular intervals. There just isn’t the soil in the containers to meet the need of all the plants. I find tomato feed as good as anything as it promotes flowering.
Horticultural.
HANGING BASKETS.
I remember advising people in the past to keep the frost of their baskets over winter. There are usually a few plants, such as geraniums or ivies that will come back the following year. It made me chuckle when people complained that their plants had died over winter. I forgot to mention that if the baskets were put into a shed or garage they would need watering every so often. Six months without water would finish even the hardiest plant off! If you do have any plants that have survived, pull them out and check them very carefully for pests on the leaves or soil before you reuse them. You might have been first in the queue at the shops and bought yourself some spring plants for the baskets. If you have spring pansies or polyanthus, you will see that these are probably ready for pulling out so you can replace them with summer stock.
PLANTS FOR THE BASKETS.
You might be tempted to go for the baskets that are already filled in the garden centres. There might not be as many plants in them compared to baskets you make up yourself. Also the plants will probably be in full bloom so you won’t get as long a show of colour compared to making up your own. Choose plants that have a long flowering season to get the best out of the basket. Whichever plants you choose remember that they have been grown indoors and they will need a bit of protection against the elements for the first few days, so put them in a sheltered spot for a day or two. Try filling the basket with just one type of plant for a dramatic effect. Busy Lizzies; fuchsias or geraniums give a brilliant display until the first frosts. Avoid plants such as nemesia unless you can grow new plants at regular intervals as they only flower for a short period. Here are a few on offer that I found to be reliable in baskets:
Trailing lobelia. Very well behaved around the sides of the basket.
Pansies. The summer varieties will last all summer. Deadhead often, but save a few seed heads for planting up next spring.
Verbena. Loads to choose from here. Pick the trailing type and plant near the centre of the basket so they fill out before going over the edge. They take really easily from cuttings too.
Busy Lizzie. Bright display all summer. Again they root easily from cuttings.
Geranium. We’re spoilt for choice again with these. Upright or trailing, take your pick.
Bidens. These are very fast growing. They have yellow flowers and trail very well. Buncrana council use them to very good effect in their displays. Cuttings take very easily as well so don’t buy too many of them.
Helichrysum. These are grown for their silvery foliage. They trail very well and can be over wintered.
Begonia. Again, these will flower until the first frosts. The tuberous types can be over wintered.
When you are buying the plants try to buy the ones that aren’t in flower yet as these will give you a longer display. If you find yourself buying a plant that is pot bound then tease some roots out gently from around the root ball, this should help the plant to establish once it is planted into the basket.
CARE OF THE BASKET
Hanging baskets are very demanding things. Unless you have a very reliable relation, friend or neighbour you will not get a holiday in summer. Even on the driest days they will need watering at least twice a day. If you have a lot of baskets then you might like to consider a self-watering system. This will drip feed your baskets at a set time throughout the day and night by means of a twenty-four hour timer. For a regular house you could fit one of these systems for as little as 200 euro or less. You will be free all summer and the plants would thrive. A small price to pay I think.
When you fit the basket to the wall or a post, remember that they are heavy when full of water. Check the brackets are in good condition and that the chains are strong. The baskets can come down with a mighty bump.
If you do let the basket dry out then they are impossible to water in the normal manner, as the water will just run off the surface. Take the basket down and put it into a large container full of water. Leave it long enough until the basket starts to sink and pull it out. The basket is now fully watered.
Even if the basket has slow release fertiliser in it you will be well advised to still feed the plants at regular intervals. There just isn’t the soil in the containers to meet the need of all the plants. I find tomato feed as good as anything as it promotes flowering.
Horticultural.
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