Flower Hanging Basket Liners

By using a modern hanging basket liner, planting a flower hanging basket is easy and clean. Pre-formed hanging basket liners — made from compressed wood pulp, peat and textile fibre — are the simplest of all and give a natural effect. Just lower the basket liner into the flower basket, fill with soil, plant up and water well — no drainage material is required since the liner is porous.

Synthetic whalehide liners, which are sold flat but gather up into a bowl shape, are equally easy to use. Some incorporate a capillary matting pad in the bottom which acts as a water reservoir.

Plant trailing and cascading plants around the edge of the flower hanging basket and add a single upright plant, such as a pelargonium or fuchsia, in the centre.

Moss-Lined Flower Hanging Baskets

Make a ‘nest’ of fresh, moist moss inside the basket to a thickness of about 2.5cm (1 in). Work on a bench — not with the basket hanging up.

Line with a sheet of polythene to retain water, but perforate it heavily to prevent waterlogging and also to keep the moss moist.

Infill with John Innes potting compost No. 2 or an equivalent loam-based potting compost to within 2.5cm (1 in) of the top.

Insert trailing plants into the side after puncturing the lining with the tip of a small trowel or with a knife. Put upright plants in the centre.

Moss Liners for Flower Hanging Baskets

Flower hanging baskets look more natural with a sphagnum moss liner, obtainable from most garden centres. Choose a basket with a fairly close-woven framework so that the moss does not fall through.

Flowers tend to be produced more profusely if the plants are packed in quite tightly. Use a mixture of trailing and upright plants, such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, petunias and pansies. Trailing lobelia looks good through the base and sides of the basket.