Planting a hanging basket

First of all, stand the basket on a bucket for stability.

Line wire baskets with a lining material such as J. Arthur Bower's Wool'n Moss or Basket Liner.  Rattan baskets generally come with a pre-fitted polythene liner.

Partially fill the basket with a suitable compost such as J. Arthur Bower's Tub & Basket Compost or Moisture Control Compost.  Moisture loss is the main enemy of all basket and container plants and these composts contain water-storing granules which retain hundreds of times their own weight in water.  The polymer gradually releaes its stored water to the roots as required, over an extended period of time, allowing intervals between watering to be significantly increased.

Begin placing plants through the liner or moss into the basket sides, taking care not to damage the roots.  Trailing plants are especially suitable for basket sides.

Add more compost and plants until the basket is full and plant larger specimens at the top, leaving 2.5cm (1") between the surface of the compost and the rim of the basket.  As a guide, 10 litres of J. Arthur Bower's compost will fill a 12" basket.

Once the basket has been planted up, water well and leave in a sheltered position away from the wind, if possible, to harden off before hanging up in its final position at the end of May.

J. Arthur Bower's Tub & Basket Compost will supply your plants with all the nutrients they need for strong, healthy growth during the first six to eight weeks.  After that feed regularly with a liquid food such as J. Arthur Bower's Tub & Basket Plant Food.