How to Plant a Wire Hanging Basket

Wire hanging baskets use coconut or sphagnum moss linings.

Wire hanging baskets display an abundance of color and texture in a small space. Personalize flower displays for shade or sun, with annual or perennial flowers. Trailing vines and flowers create a romantic, cottage-style look. An all-succulent hanging basket requires little water or maintenance. Wire baskets have coconut fiber or moss linings that allow slow water drainage. Use potting soil or mature compost mixed with garden soil to ensure adequate soil nutrients. Prepare the wire hanging basket in a garden area where soil and water may be spilled without concern.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Wire hanging basket
• Coconut liner or sphagnum moss
• Hand trowel
• Potting soil or compost mix
• 3 to 7 plants
• Water soluble fertilizer, liquid fish emulsion or compost tea

1. Line the basket with a coconut fiber lining or 2-inch layer of moist sphagnum moss. Tuck moss in carefully to create a firm lining without holes. Smooth down edges of moss at the wire basket rim to create a neat look.

2. Fill the container with a soil mixture to an inch from the top rim. Tamp down lightly. Some soil displaces when plants are placed in the basket.

3. Choose the largest plant for the center of the basket. Choose vines or trailing plants for the basket edge. Dig a hole for each plant with the trowel. Place each plant slightly deeper than the soil line. Firm the soil carefully, as you tamp it down around each plant. Replace dirt carefully.

4. Insert the sharp trowel point into the basket lining from the outside to create several holes around the sides. Place plants into the holes, ensuring plant roots touch soil. Gently pull the liner in around the plant edge. Plants will now cascade as they grow.

5. Soak the basket thoroughly and allow it to dry out. Add soil if the soil level sinks. Check that all plant roots are covered with soil. Hang the basket in its chosen location when all water has drained out.

Tips & Warnings

• Place woody or erect plants at a 45-degree angle in the basket for a more graceful arrangement. Three plants per 10- to 14-inch diameter basket allow adequate space for plant growth. Use three to four plants in small holes around the sides.

• Hanging baskets require more frequent fertilization than landscape plantings. Feed every other week with a diluted water-soluble general fertilizer, fish emulsion or compost tea. Baskets in direct sunlight need water daily.

References

• Purdue University Extension Service; Hanging Baskets; B.Rosie Lerner; Oct. 2002
• University of Illinois Extension; Making Hanging Baskets

Resources

• Clemson University Extension; Hanging Baskets & Window Boxes; Russ, et al.; June 1999
• Washington State University; Clark County Extension; Hanging Baskets, June 2002