No matter what the style, size or aspect of your garden, hanging baskets offer endless ways to give it a boost. The only limit is your imagination.
Special effects
Even one or two hanging baskets can bring an entire area to life. But there are a few tricks that really make a difference.
Firstly, get the height right. Hang them so they can be seen and touched but keep them out of the main areas of traffic flow to avoid people hitting their heads.
To attach them to a beam or rafter, you’ll need a strong hook and a metal chain or long metal rod to hang them at the desired height. The metal rods, called S hooks or pergola hooks, are available in various lengths from 30cm to 90cm. You can also use an adjustable hanger that works like a pulley to lower or raise the basket.
Remember that hanging baskets will be heavy after watering, so ask an expert at a garden centre to advise on a chain that can take the weight of your basket.
Baskets in groups are great for instant impact. You may even like to create a wall of hanging baskets by hanging them at varying heights in a brick-like fashion.
Up the wall
You don’t need a beam or post to hang a basket. Walls and fences make perfect places for hanging. You just need an L-shaped bracket that is sturdy enough to take the weight of each basket and long enough for your basket to be able to hang freely away from the wall. You can also use a half-basket that sits with its flat side against the wall.
Try these planting ideas
Protect basil from snails by growing it in a basket far above these pests.
Plant a trailing tomato in a large basket (with a diameter of about 40cm).
Use bromeliads for a drought-hardy basket with a modern, tropical look.
Try using a climbing plant, such as a hoya. As it grows, it will drape nicely.
For a pretty, fragrant basket, plant mix of dianthus and stock.
Try natives like dampiera, fan-flower (Scaevola) or cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome).
Make your own miniature vegie patch using plants with shallow roots such as lettuce, rocket or mesclun.
For a stunning tropical look, try a forest cactus such as an epiphyllum or a Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera).
Ground covers such as lamium, plectranthus, Convolvulus sabatius or kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica) make great spillers when planted in baskets.
Plant alyssum or lobelia in holes cut in the sides of the liner. They will turn the basket into a ball of colour.
If you have a shady spot, try planting a mix of ferns, fuchsias, impatiens and cape primrose (Streptocarpus).
Combine trailing herbs such as thyme, marjoram, oregano or prostrate rosemary, with the more upright parsley and chives.
Silver- or grey-leafed plants contrast well with flowering plants. You might like to try Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, sprawling helichrysum or Lotus berthelotii.
To create an attractive indoor display try begonia, chain of hearts (Ceropegia) or the piggyback plant (Tolmiea).
A top option for sunny spots is ivy-leafed geranium (Pelargonium peltatum). This trailing plant is incredibly tough and has lots of colourful flowers. You can also try verbena, petunias and nasturtiums.
The beauty of baskets
Here are some great reasons to garden in hanging baskets.
They let you show off your special plants and flowers.
They make good use of space in small gardens. For example, you can hang baskets from the rafters or suspend a display from a free-standing pillar or pole.
They’re great for hard-to-reach spots, such as under the eaves. All you have to do is hook them up to a drip-watering system.
They can provide privacy on a patio, balcony or veranda.
They are out of reach of pests such as slugs and snails.
Half-baskets can be used to create a curtain of colour on a wall.
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