How to water hanging baskets

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You will need

  • Hanging basket
  • Watering can
Do it: June - August
At its best: June - August
Takes just: 10 minutes

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Overview

For the boldest, brightest display in a hanging basket choose a large container (no smaller than 35cm) and pack it with plants. But keeping them flowering is thirsty work, so for a really successful show the plants will need plenty of water on a regular basis.

How to do it

1You will need to water hanging baskets every day, morning and evening, in the height of summer as water is key to keeping flowers coming. Mixing slow-release feeding granules into the compost before planting up will cut your workload a little, but you should still add liquid feed to one watering a week to boost the blooms.

Adam's tip

Use a hanging basket with a built-in reservoir in the base to ensure a constant supply of water. It won't look attractive at first, but include some trailing plants and they'll soon hide it.

Discuss this project

Talkback: How to water hanging baskets
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dotty16 24/11/2011 at 15:28

Hi, I am always greatful for any new tips that I can get, so will be trying this one, still to find a way to keep all my neighbours cats from using my garden as their toilet! I do love cats, but am unable to have my own as my daughter and husband have allergies to cats and dogs! Why do they use my garden and not their own?

peteyates 24/11/2011 at 15:30

That is a bit too simple for the real world.. baskets are always too high or the water just spills out.. Suggest for too high - then gaffer tape an old milk container to a broomstick or plastic conduit then you can reach . To help water, sink in a length of old waste pipe when making them and pour the water into that. Try sinking the base of an old milk container in the compost at the bottom of the basket to retain some of the water that would otherwise drain out Pete