I don't do hanging baskets any more , but my windowboxs were a success this last two winters with violas instead of pansys , they seem to stand the weather better
arneil I posted somewhere else (can't remember where ) about my colour co-ordinated Winter containers which were indeed very lovely. I planted them up with Viola Amber Kiss and they were really pretty but really REALLY tiny. Maybe if I'd done them as window boxes they'd have been better...not so far away.
I wouldn't do hanging baskets for WInter as they go round like windmills here. I could generate my own power but I do lower containers that I can give a bit of shelter. Are you sheltered or blown away "up north"? I don't think you're just as far west as me but there's not much in it.
pp I'm sheltered at the back but there's no way I could have a hanging basket at the front of the house. . . . . . it gets the wind full blast from you
Winter hanging baskets here either freeze to death or become wind turbines but I've had some success with winter window boxes using a mix of trailing ivies and violas but even those look sad when frozen so I haven't bothered for years now.
Blue fescues and heucheras look great till frozen or too dry and winter heathers soon go brown. Mini skimmias and gaultherias are good but don't like my alkaline tap water.
Carex, cyclamen and iris reticulata are good for low baskets where you can see in.
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)."
I live on the border of Co Down and Co Armagh . Inland and on the windtunnel that is the path of the NEWRY canal , my violas were with Cyclamons and did give a good display , lay down in the bad weeks and bounced back when it was milder , I overplanted
For some reason I thought you were up Derry direction. Must be doting!
My mum lives in the Mossley Gap. Ten miles from Belfast and nothing between her and the Atlantic!!!
I was cutting her grass last week and I'd forgotten how blowy it was at the front of their house. Her garden is a full two weeks behind her neighbours.
Posts
I don't do hanging baskets any more , but my windowboxs were a success this last two winters with violas instead of pansys , they seem to stand the weather better
arneil I posted somewhere else (can't remember where
) about my colour co-ordinated Winter containers which were indeed very lovely. I planted them up with Viola Amber Kiss and they were really pretty but really REALLY tiny. Maybe if I'd done them as window boxes they'd have been better...not so far away. 
I wouldn't do hanging baskets for WInter as they go round like windmills here. I could generate my own power but I do lower containers that I can give a bit of shelter. Are you sheltered or blown away "up north"? I don't think you're just as far west as me but there's not much in it.
pp I'm sheltered at the back but there's no way I could have a hanging basket at the front of the house. . . . . . it gets the wind full blast from you
How very dare you Joyce. I send only breathy kisses your way.
pp
Winter hanging baskets here either freeze to death or become wind turbines but I've had some success with winter window boxes using a mix of trailing ivies and violas but even those look sad when frozen so I haven't bothered for years now.
Blue fescues and heucheras look great till frozen or too dry and winter heathers soon go brown. Mini skimmias and gaultherias are good but don't like my alkaline tap water.
Carex, cyclamen and iris reticulata are good for low baskets where you can see in.
I live on the border of Co Down and Co Armagh . Inland and on the windtunnel that is the path of the NEWRY canal , my violas were with Cyclamons and did give a good display , lay down in the bad weeks and bounced back when it was milder , I overplanted
Everywhere here is a wind tunnel!
For some reason I thought you were up Derry direction. Must be doting!
My mum lives in the Mossley Gap. Ten miles from Belfast and nothing between her and the Atlantic!!!
I was cutting her grass last week and I'd forgotten how blowy it was at the front of their house. Her garden is a full two weeks behind her neighbours.
I like the idea of hanging heuchera. I'm off to the garden centre tomorrow so I'm going to have a look and see what's cheap