CREATE YOUR OWN HANGING BASKET OR CONTAINER GARDEN

Step One

Pick out which container or basket you would like to plant.  Choose a lightweight soil mixture to keep the weight down.  The soil mixes provided at Van Wingerden Greenhouses have been developed to use for this purpose.  If you purchase a container or basket and the plants to fill your pot, you can receive our special blend of soil to fill your container for free.

Step Two

Decide how you would like to fertilize your basket.  You can either use a slow release fertilizer, like Osmocote, or a water soluble fertilizer.  If you use a slow release fertilizer, be sure to follow the instructions on the package and mix the proper amount into the soil before you plant.  If you choose a water soluble fertilizer, you should fertilize every time you water your basket in order to produce a large and full basket. 

Step Three

Raise the basket up on an upside down flower pot so you can work with both hands and view the creation from all sides as you put it together.  Fill your pot with soil.  Do not fill the pot so the soil level is even with the top of the pot.  Leave about one half to one full inch of space so that when you water it will not run off the sides of the pot. 

Choose your plants from the list below.  Be creative!  Use an upright plant in the center and put trailing and  clumping plants around the outside rim of the container.  Alternate the trailing and clumping plants, and make sure you use enough plants so that your basket looks good immediately, but don’t pile plants on top of each other.  Make sure you pay attention to the location you plan on placing the basket.  If it will be in a sunny area or a shady area, choose plants according to the lists below.  Pay attention to color themes too. 

You will find many of these plants in our Basket Stuffer section.  All plants in the

Van Wingerden Basket Stuffer section will make a perfect hanging basket.

Step Four

When you are ready to plant, loosen the roots gently on each plant.  Do not plant them without loosening the root ball.  Make sure the crown of the plant is planted evenly with soil level.  Do not bury the leaves but make sure that the roots are buried.  Make sure you check that the plants are still planted properly after watering for the first time.

Water thoroughly and often.  On many days throughout Spring and Summer your basket may need to be watered and fertilized every day.  If your basket totally dries out, take it down and submerge it in a bucket of water, letting it absorb as much water as it can handle.  This will often revitalize a basket, but shouldn’t be relied upon on a  regular basis.  Correct watering technique requires watering often and thoroughly.