Here are some great tips for planting flowers in hanging baskets....NOTHING beats hanging baskets for an injection of summer colour. They're just the things to brighten up a drab wall or fence, and perfect for hanging by your front door to welcome visitors.  Of course, hanging baskets have been popular for summer decorating for many years. They even go back as far as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. These fantastic gardens were considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Even the Victorians adored their lovely hanging baskets. As people moved to North America, their love of flowers, and diverse cultures brought various ways to display them. Baskets are an attractive way to decorate porches and verandahs with beautiful colors and different plants. Usually the kind of flowers you plant is based upon the position they are in. If they are in full or part sun, or shade, this determines the plants that can be grown. Use your imagination and likes to decide what flowers to plant. You can go with all one color, mixed colors, and holiday themes. If you want, you can use all the same flowers or mix sizes and colors in your flower baskets, window boxes, and planter stands. If you are in a warm climate you can start your hanging baskets and planters early and enjoy them all summer long.  Using Hanging Baskets To make your house and garden attractive, try hanging baskets in other places besides the front porch. Use a shepherd's hook with a hanging basket beside your front steps or mailbox. Build an arbor and decorate it with hanging flowers. Frame your pathway, patio and entrances with colourful hanging baskets. When you are ready to plant, decide what kind of planter you want. The sizes vary from 6 to 12 inches. Choose a size that is appropriate for the area where it will hang. When you have the container, then you are ready to put the moss in the pot. Sphagnum moss is used because it holds moisture and helps plants grow better. After the moss is moistened and fitted into the container, then you can add the potting soil and polymers. Potting soil by itself does not hold nutrients, so polymers need to be added periodically. Hanging Baskets Require Minimal Care Hanging pots are easy to take care of and come with an external saucer or an internal disk that holds water, which can be pulled into the plant.Begin feeding your baskets with a liquid fertiliser or some of your garden compost for optimal results. Remember to take your baskets down if it gets windy... this is Ireland after all. Just continue watering and fertilizing through the summer and you will be able to enjoy your beautiful plants the entire season. Hanging baskets do not take up a lot of room and are pleasing to look at, being at eye level. Colour theme your plants for display with impact and include a mix of lush foliage, big blooms and delicate flowers.And use the chance to be creative - a basket only lasts for a few months and costs very little to create, so use the opportunity to experiment with plants and try something new.  Plant Beautiful Flowers When you have the pot prepared, place your flowers in and water them. Plant the largest flowers first and follow with the smaller ones and the fillers. Some popular flowers that are recommended for hanging baskets are petunias, impatiens, pansies, ferns, ivy, mums, coleus, fuchsias, and many others. Start planning your flower gardens now and enjoy a creative, beautiful growing season. Lemons for Christmas a Plum idea. Lemons for Christmas a Plum idea. As Autumn falls into Winter and the garden calms to a different tempo thoughts can turn to planting and preparation. Late Autumn, early winter is the primary and possibly the most wonderful time to plant trees, shrubs and hedges. With a modicum of warmth still in the soil and sufficient moisture all shrubs and trees tend to bed in far better at this time of year. For those with gardens and interest in success prepare your soil well choose your preferred plants and trees and get down to your local nurseries and garden centres. The choice of potted plants and bare rooted hedging is extensive and you may be lucky and find an interested and knowledgeable assistant who can guide you to success. Autumn, Winter is the best time to plant and will guarantee success when it comes time to reap a harvest of fruit or flowers. On the subject of ‘reaping a harvest’ fruit trees are a fabulous addition to any garden from sunny roof or balcony to a suburban garden or rural spot. The choice of Apples, Pears and plums is extensive and easy to purchase they are both affordable and easily available. Try to avoid plants kept in Supermarkets as they are often left unwatered and unwanted, price is not always the best prerogative when buying plants. ‘Choices for fruit trees’ Plums, obviously the best for this climate is the old but great Victoria Plum, easy and very bountiful within two years of purchase. No supermarket plum will come near a ripe garden plum. Other great Plums that thrive in Ireland are Greengages and Damsons the forgotten Plums of real merit. The Greengage or ‘Gage’ is a misty green plum of depth of flavour and unique nuances, you will wonder why you never see them in shops.The Damson is a tiny black plum of great use although they require a little more space they are bountiful in bad years and prolonged. Obviously for smaller spaces adapted Apple trees on dwarf rootstocks are the way to go and within this realm the choice is huge and readily available. Pears are also a bountiful and easy option. Either in large pots or the ground once any of these choices are made and cared for you will have unending success. As Gifts for yourself or for Christmas ‘ Oranges & Lemons’ Nothing says Christmas like Oranges and Lemons and these although a little more expensive are a great choice for an indoor plant that require minimal care and give maximum joy. Requirements are, keep away from draughts in a sunny window or conservatory, water as they begin to dry out and feed weekly. All Citrus fruit produce flowers from late December into February depending on conditions. The flowers are white stars and the aroma fabulous and all pervading. They tend to be self pollinated and the tiny fruits are produced from the flowers and these appear shortly after the flower withers. So feed and water well during and after flowering to produce a good crop. Also remember do not consume the fruit until the following year as they may contain residues of insecticide from the nursery. ‘Other great choices for winter planting’ Soft fruits such as Himalayan Blackberries, Tayberries as well as Boysenberries. All of these require a garden and a little more work but are bountiful and free once established. Obviously the Blueberry is a topical and wonderful bush. Blueberries require and acid soil and a well prepared and heavily moisture retentive soil and protection from birds and little boys.. ‘Emerging trends for the garden’ Home grown fruit and Vegetables. Ornamental Grasses, Penstimums, Hydrangeas both herbaceous and shrub. Finally dwarf Conifers as beloved in the 60’s and 70’s are on the way back. Remember the joy is in the success so prepare well and plant now.   |
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