How to Create a June-September Hanging Basket

• Container: Wire Basket 16" (40cm)diameter x 10" (25 cm) deep with 3 hanger wires.
• Potting Mixture: Commercial potting soil or selfmade using 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite or perlite, 1/3 sterile soil mixing in slow release fertilzer.
• Moss: Enough to generously line basket. Most kinds are Ok, from your own source or garden store.
• Plants: You may substitute any of the following plants depending on availability or personal preferences (just check their blooming period):
  
  
  • 1 white Trailing Snap Dragon
  • 3 Lobelia "Sapphire"
  • 3 Lobelia "White Lady"
  • 3 Lobelia "Blue Cascade"
  • 3 pink Petunias (petunia x hybrida)
  • 3 pink, crimson, mauve Poor Man's Orchid (Schizanthus)
  • 3 purple Verbena
  • 6 yellow Irish Lace Dwarf Marigold (filifolia)
  • 3 pink Ivy Geranium (pelargonium peltatum)

Aside from the basket, set out the 28 plants as if placing in basket position, making sure to evenly distribute the plants around the sides in 3 layers.

• 1. Pressing firmly, line the basket with moss starting at the bottom and working up.
  
• 2. Fill the basket with potting mixture up to the position of the first layer of plants.
  
• 3. Push the roots of the plants, through the basket wire, onto the top of the soil.
  
• 4. Continue up the sides adding more moss and soil inside the basket as necessary, and finish with the Trailing Snap Dragon on top.
  
• 5. Water well.
  

Hang in a sunny location from secure location that can support up to 70 lbs when wet.

Maintenance:

Water everyday, even twice a day during dry spells. Fertilize weekly with liquid organic fertilizer such as fish or seaweed. Deadhead faded flowers regularily. At end of season, throw all but moss, and any plants that can be overwintered, into the compost. The moss can be reused next year, and cuttings can be taken from overwintered plant such as geraniums.