by Sammy Stein

Created on: July 15, 2009

Hanging flower baskets can really add color and life to any part of the garden, especially dull corners, under porches, on the sides of buildings or outhouses. However, rather than purchase one of the ready-made types, you can create your own hanging flower baskets to reflect your own personality and garden style.

First, choose the basket. This will be the central feature so make sure it is the right size, material and is weatherproof. Willow tubs make great hanging baskets as they are weatherproof for about 5 years, or you can have a basket made bespoke out of reeds, birch or any pliable softwood or canes. There are less expensive than you think and really make the basket original.

Next, think about the colour - natural is great but you can also use plant-safe paints to change the colour or use a plastic sheaths with holes to add colour to the outside of your basket. The holes are important to allow air to circulate to avoid mould and plant diseases thriving.

You do not have to stick to one single basket. Several baskets of different size can be hung on top of each other for a very original hanging basket idea.

Now think about the plants - do you want seasonal color or year round appeal? Are the plants to trail luxuriantly over the side of the basket or do you want a more formal design?

Try to choose plants which enjoy the same soil so you can use the correct growing medium for all the plants. You can create small planting pockets using plastic cups or inserts but this is tricky and it is best to use plants which go well together and like the same growing medium.

Decide on the arrangement of your plants - you may have a large plant in the centre with small ferns or colored flowering plants around the outside- either erect or trailing. Think about the color of the surface against which the flowering plants in your basket will be seen and choose colors which will be shown off against it.

You can make small holes in the basket itself with a sharp Stanley knife if you want to have plants coming out of the basket structure itself but limit these as you might risk affecting the integrity of the basket weave itself if you try to put in too many.

Decide how many plants you need by using directories to check their growth and size in a year and then place on the ground them roughly in the pattern you are going to plant them in.

Line your basket with moss or water retaining membrane specially for the purpose- available from garden centers. This retains water

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