How to create a summer hanging basket

How to create a summer hanging basket

Fill your hanging basket with pinks and oranges, for an eye-catching display. We show you how to make it.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is not at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do To do in May

Do To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

This eye catching orange-themed summer hanging basket features diascia, fuchsia and heuchera, and is easy to make. Choose a pre-moulded coir basket to make it even more simple. It doesn’t really matter which plants you use, as long as you have some to fill the centre, plus trailing plants to spill gracefully over the sides.

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You Will Need

  • Ipomoea 'Sweet Caroline' (1)
  • Calibrachoa 'Million Bells Cherry' (3)
  • Osteospermum 'Tresco Purple' (1)
  • Diascia 'Red Ace' (6)
  • 36cm metalware basket, grass clippings
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Slow-release fertiliser

Step 1

Prop the basket on a bucket and line it with moist grass clippings. Alternatively you can buy a pre-moulded coir basket. To help retain moisture add a layer of plastic inside this.

How to create a summer hanging basket - lining the basket
How to create a summer hanging basket – lining the basket

Step 2

Snip a few drainage holes into the plastic, then fill the basket two-thirds full with compost (mixed with water-retaining gel). Plant the tallest plants off centre.

How to create a summer hanging basket -planting the taller plants
How to create a summer hanging basket -planting the taller plants

Step 3

Plant the trailing plants around the edge, where their flowers will quickly grow over the sides.

How to create a summer hanging basket -planting trailing plants
How to create a summer hanging basket -planting trailing plants

Step 4

It’s important to keep plants well fed, so give them a boost of liquid plant food, such as tomato fertiliser, at this stage.

How to create a summer hanging basket - feeding the plants
How to create a summer hanging basket – feeding the plants

Step 5

Give your plants a good water, and allow to drain before hanging the basket in its final position.

How to create a summer hanging basket - watering the basket
How to create a summer hanging basket – watering the basket
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Remember to water your baskets at least once a day, or more frequently, when it’s hot and dry or windy.

Watering can