Suspended Color: How to Create and Care of Beautiful Hanging BasketsBy Amy Bigej
 Nothing adds color to the drab
corners of your outdoor spaces like the brilliant, suspended blossoms of
hanging baskets. Hanging baskets flow like a river of cascading
blooms over entry ways, decks, patios and railings. They offer
vertical appeal to corners or posts and combine with brilliant mastery
different colors and textures of ever-blooming plants. With a few
simple tips on constructing and caring for your hanging baskets, you can
begin creating a basket masterpiece that will continue to give back
throughout the growing season. Container Choices
There are several choices when it comes to hanging
basket containers. Planters range from plastic pots to wood or wire
baskets. One very important thing to keep in mind: make sure
that the container you choose is large enough to carry your beautiful
blooms through the entire growing season. A larger container will
retain more water during the hot summer days and will allow enough soil
for optimal root growth and plant health. Smaller containers dry out
faster.
Plant Selection
When it comes to choosing your plants, the options are
only limited by your imagination. One way to narrow it down is by
deciding whether your
 planter will be in afternoon sun or
shade. These conditions will determine the plants that you
choose. Next, you will have to come up with a style or
theme. For instance, do you want all annuals or a combination of
annuals, perennials, or tropicals? Look beyond the usual
suspects. Hanging baskets need to pack a punch if they are going to
grab attention from the street. Create an overflowing river of blooms
with known top performers such as trailing petunias, but add different
textures and colors by introducing new eye-catching annuals or perennials
to the mix. Al’s grows several new varieties of annuals each
year to offer unique and cutting-edge style to your plantings. Just
make sure that they all require the same growing conditions and
care. For a balance look, choose a combination of upright, mounding
and trailing plants so that your basket will fill in on top and cover over
the sides. You can use different leaf and bloom shapes to give your
basket cool structure and form. Color Design: Contrasting or
Complementary?
Color is an important part of your plant selection
process. You will have to decide on a color scheme that fits your
style and surroundings. Use contrasting or complementary colors
together or different shades of the same color for a monochromatic
look. Avoid mixing too many colors as it makes it look too busy and
over-whelms the eye.
Ready to Plant?
Now that you have picked a planter and a beautiful mix of plants to
go inside, you are ready to put your combination together. Follow
these steps for success.
Pour your potting soil into your container until it is at a level
where the plants can be placed on top and there is still a 1 inch lip at
the top of the container. It is better to add less soil and fill in
than to add too much and constantly try to ‘dig your way
out’. A high quality potting soil is an important start to
creating a thriving hanging
 basket. Al’s Premium Organic Potting Soil is a superior blend
of Canadian sphagnum peat moss, bark and pumice. Mix in Al’s
Transplant Fertilizer (7-5-4) to help reduce transplant shock and help
give plants an initial push.Place your plants in the container. For consistency and an
appealing look, always place your upright plants in the center or back of
the container, clumping plants next and trailing plants toward the
edge. If you are using 2 or more of the same plant in your pot, place
them opposite each other to create a balanced look on all sides.
Fill in around the plants with extra soil. It is important to
fill in around the plants to meld the combination and cover any exposed
roots. Just be sure to leave about a 1 inch deep lip around the top
of the planter to allow watering without excess soil spilling out of your
container.
Growing It On…Continued Care
Follow these essential tips to help your gorgeous flowering baskets
and containers thrive during the hot summer months.
Remember to water throughout the summer. Use common sense and
water when needed. During the hot summer, it will be necessary to
water every day. When the weather is cooler, you won’t need to
water as often. When in doubt, feel the soil on the top of the
planter. If it is dry,
 water the
plants; if it is moist, leave it alone.Fertilize your planters throughout the summer and into fall. The
more you fertilize, the less you have to deadhead and the more sensational
your plants will be. Use Al’s Slow Release 10-4-8 fertilizer
every two months or use Al’s 20-9-20 water soluble fertilizer 1-2
times a week.
Pests
Your beautiful blooms are edible delights to many pests. If you
notice all your blooms are suddenly missing this could be the work of the
budworm. To prevent budworm damage start spray your foliage with
Fertilome’s Borer, Bagworm, Leafminer and Tent Caterpillar Spray, in
mid June and continue spraying every two-three weeks to avoid these
pests. If you see damage from budworm, even after preventative
spraying, spray every 10 days or as stated on the label. For other
“flying” pests, use Bayer’s Rose & Flower.
Your other plants may become jealous; as eyes are lifted pass them,
to view your brilliant, suspended color of your new hanging
masterpieces.
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PORTLAND METRO-AREA NURSERY LOCATIONS |
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SALEM AREA NURSERY LOCATION |
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