A simple step-by-step guide from our garden expert Michelle to creating vibrant, bee-friendly hanging baskets that brighten your garden all summer long.
When summer arrives, there’s no better way to add vibrant colour and personality to your outdoor space than with hanging baskets. These charming floral displays bring life to patios, porches, fences, and garden walls. Not only will they bring you much joy, they add instant kerb appeal… and with a few helpful tips, you’ll soon discover just how easy they are to create!
Our resident garden expert Michelle has put together a simple step-by-step guide to help you create the perfect summer hanging basket, using beautiful, bee-friendly plants and a few essential tools. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned gardener, this guide will help your baskets bloom beautifully all season long.
Why Choose Hanging Baskets?
Hanging baskets are a fantastic way to:
- Brighten up walls and entrances
- Use vertical space in smaller gardens or patios
- Attract pollinators like bees and butterflies
- Showcase a mix of trailing and upright plants for an impressive cascading effect.
Here’s a Handy Checklist of What You’ll Need to Make a Hanging Basket:
- Hanging Basket
- Hanging Basket Liner
- Hanging Basket Wall Bracket
- Compost, we recommend Multi-Purpose Compost with John Innes.
- Smart Garden Fertigel
- Watering Can
- A mix of colourful plants and flowers – available at our garden centres!
Michelle's Favourite Plants for Summer Baskets:
- Begonia – a bold and bright centrepiece
- Surfinias – trailing petunias in vibrant shades
- Yellow Bidens – eye-catching yellow blooms that attract bees
- Lobelia – trailing filler plant for added volume and colour
Michelle’s Step-by-Step Guide: How to Plant Your Summer Hanging Basket
- Choose Your Basket, Liner, and a Wall Bracket
Select a basket and liner that suit your garden’s aesthetic and your personal preference. We stock various styles, colours, and sizes – check online or in-store.
- Add Compost to the Base
Fill the basket halfway with Multi-Purpose Compost with John Innes. This special compost blend has added loam which helps with moisture retention, ensuring plants don’t dry out too quickly—ideal for hot summer days.
- Mix in Fertigel
Shake in 1-2 scoops of Smart Garden Fertigel and mix it well with the compost. Fertigel is a feed and water agent that nourishes your plants and prevents both under- and over-watering.
- Top up the Basket
Add more compost until it's about an inch from the rim. This gives you enough room to arrange and plant your flowers without spillover.
- Arrange Your Plants
Start by placing your Begonia in the centre. Surround it with Surfinias and Yellow Bidens for contrast and trailing effect. Fill any gaps with Lobelia, which will spill beautifully over the sides (about 8-12 inches long) and bloom into a trailing cascade of colour.
Top Tip from Michelle: Lay your plants out before planting them in the basket to plan the best arrangement.
- Top Up with Compost
Once your plants are positioned, fill in the spaces between them with more compost to keep them firmly in place.
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Water and Settle
Water thoroughly and let the basket sit on the ground for about an hour. This gives the roots time to settle before hanging the basket up.
Caring for Your Hanging Basket
To keep your summer hanging basket looking its best:
- Water regularly, especially in warm weather—daily may be necessary!
- Feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser for continued blooming
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth
- Rotate baskets occasionally to ensure even sun exposure
Visit Us - Online or In Store - for Plants, Advice & More
Looking for the best plants for hanging baskets? Browse online or visit one of our 26 garden centres in Munster to explore a wide selection of summer flowers, compost, accessories, and speak with our friendly garden experts—like Michelle—who are happy to help with tips and advice.
