Hanging basket season is in full swing, with colourful baskets brightening up homes, gardens, pubs and shop windows across the UK. However, hanging baskets can be tricky to get the hang of, and even if you think you have a perfect watering schedule, you may find your basket wilting much sooner than expected.
If this sounds familiar, gardening expert Jonathan Pearce is the head gardener at Pensthorpe Nature Park, a nature reserve and gardens in Fakenham, Norfolk, and he explained that there’s a common reason why some people struggle to keep their hanging baskets looking good.
In a previous interview with Express.co.uk, Jonathan explained that a few simple mistakes can cause your hanging basket to become “overwhelmed”. A prime example is trying to plant too many flowers in a basket.
She said: “I often see people including too many or too few plants in hanging baskets – you want to make sure there is room for them to grow and their roots to spread out, but at the same time they are not overwhelmed by soil or water.”
The size of the basket will determine how many flowers can comfortably fit in it.
According to Thompson-Morgan experts: “A general rule of thumb when planting a hanging basket is to use one plant for every inch of basket diameter, or 12 plants per 12-inch hanging basket.”
While some people may think that just watering is enough to maintain their hanging basket, if you want to give your flowers a boost or improve their longevity, Jonathan recommends turning to fertilizer,” he explained.
“Fertilizer is a great way to help your hanging baskets flourish and last longer.
“Some gardeners may find it difficult to feed their plants, so I recommend using a slow-release fertilizer or liquid feed to help with growth.
“With these systems, the fertilizer is distributed slowly, so the plant is not overloaded. They can be purchased at most garden centers or even supermarkets.”
Jonathan suggests using organic fertilizer and fertilizing hanging baskets about once a week, whenever possible. Compost is also important and using peat-free compost is often better for plants and already contains a variety of organic and sustainable ingredients.
If you want to encourage new growth, Jonathan recommends removing older, faded flowers periodically as this “allows new shoots to grow.”
