The other thing that might be worth pointing out (since Paul @kermit the frog says he's a learner) is water water and more water, particularly if we get another hot summer. Hanging baskets in full flow have a lot of flower and foliage in a small amount of compost, so need frequent watering even if it rains (the rain tends to run off and not make it into the compost). Mine are on an automated drip system that waters morning and evening (I adjust the time depending on the weather, 5 mins at a time if its cool, up to maybe 15 if it's really hot), and last summer they were getting a top-up during the day as well when I was around. Water-retaining crystals and slow-release feed mixed into the compost before planting help too.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I agree, hanging baskets are not easy. Watering is priority, and best done late evening or early morning more of less every day in summer temperatures. I think window boxes look better with no more than two colours. Classic edge plants would be Bacopa or variegated trailing Ivy and maybe something like Nemesia/Diascias. For a sunny area, I think Calibrachoas do well, and need no care or deadheading. In a milder area, they over-winter too.
Wow this is amazing. I was at the garden center today. Not a lot around at the moment. So will look at finchley nursery and also go up to crews Hill. Think i will get the new troughs as I've have inherited them from the previous Tennant in total I can get 8 troughs on my four windows and the two hanging baskets cleared out ready for re potting. I also need to work on the garden boarder so I'm going to have my work cut out. I'm really excited.
For a sunny area, I think Calibrachoas do well, and need no care or deadheading. In a milder area, they over-winter too.
Mine had a few lingering flowers until a couple of weeks ago, and still have some green leaves. I think I'll be extra-lazy and leave them alone for the next few months- maybe I'll be able to replant them for this summer.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Don't get too excited just yet KTF. Most of the plants mentioned for hanging baskets are not hardy and cannot be planted out till after the last of the frosts in May.
You can probably find some cheap pots of bulbs in flower now tho and put those in your troughs with some decent compost. They'll tide you over for a while.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Great advice. Was told about the watering and what a hot summer we had in 2018. Over the best few weeks I think I will get the front garden tidy weeding to be done too. This can be started tomorrow weather pending and think I will do before inbetween and after pics. Then pop them on hear see what the experienced gardeners think.
Calibrachoas wow these are my type of flower bursts of colour looks amazing from the images I've just seen. There definitely on my list. I'm also thing of bacopa. For the troughs on the bed room and bathroom windows.
I wondered why my winter pansies were drooping in spite of the rain we have had and read recently that the wind really dries out hanging baskets in winter and that was my problem easily rectified.
JennyJ, same here with the Calibrachoa. The weather is expected to take a turn for the worse next few days, so it will be interesting to see what happens to mine. When I was at my mum's over Christmas, hers were still flowering too! Kermit the frog, I think maybe wait for a few more weeks. Especially hanging baskets.
For Spring into summer, Bellis Perennis look good in window boxes. Violas are also good too.
If you're wanting early colour in your containers you can't go far wrong with pansies or violas, just remember to remove dead heads regularly to ensure prolonged flowering. They are good in the back end of the year too when summer bedding has finished. Primroses and polyanthus are available now in good Garden Centres. Also look for small pots of foliage plants such as Euonymus, Ferns, Ajuga, Thymes, etc which add depth to your flowers and can either remain in containers when you change seaons or grown on into bigger plants for the garden. Bulbs can also be planted, either in Autumn to flower in Spring or popped in whilst in bud at this time of year to fill any gaps. Other suggestions are heathers and mini cyclamen for Autumn baskets, the latter can be replaced with Spring bulbs e.g. Tete a Tete narcissus as they are not totally hardy.
Enjoy your planting.
A gardener's work is never at an end - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
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Think i will get the new troughs as I've have inherited them from the previous Tennant in total I can get 8 troughs on my four windows and the two hanging baskets cleared out ready for re potting.
I also need to work on the garden boarder so I'm going to have my work cut out. I'm really excited.
You can probably find some cheap pots of bulbs in flower now tho and put those in your troughs with some decent compost. They'll tide you over for a while.
Over the best few weeks I think I will get the front garden tidy weeding to be done too.
This can be started tomorrow weather pending and think I will do before inbetween and after pics.
Then pop them on hear see what the experienced gardeners think.
There definitely on my list.
I'm also thing of bacopa. For the troughs on the bed room and bathroom windows.
For Spring into summer, Bellis Perennis look good in window boxes. Violas are also good too.
Primroses and polyanthus are available now in good Garden Centres. Also look for small pots of foliage plants such as Euonymus, Ferns, Ajuga, Thymes, etc which add depth to your flowers and can either remain in containers when you change seaons or grown on into bigger plants for the garden.
Bulbs can also be planted, either in Autumn to flower in Spring or popped in whilst in bud at this time of year to fill any gaps.
Other suggestions are heathers and mini cyclamen for Autumn baskets, the latter can be replaced with Spring bulbs e.g. Tete a Tete narcissus as they are not totally hardy.
Enjoy your planting.