The crescendo of many summer yards, hanging baskets bring color, height and a touch of creative drama to your outside display. From lining the porch, framing doorways to pepping up gazebos and pergolas, these elevated containers offer a brilliant opportunity to get creative with your planting.
However, even when filled with the best plants for hanging baskets many loose their floral oomph by July, struggling to prolong the show past midsummer.
Fortunately there are a few revival tricks experts use, to keep them looking lush and vibrant through the rest of the season. Here we delve into the practical detail with our five top tips.
Water Baskets Well and Often
With the July heat upon us, it's vital to water basket regularly - daily in most cases. This is especially important for any positioned in rain shadows; next to the house, under porches or covered decks. ‘Baskets in full sun can lose over a quart of water on a hot day, so check daily, sometimes twice,' explains Stephan Winterfeldt, Horticulturalist at Park Seed.
Watering in the early morning is most beneficial, as the plant's roots can absorb moisture before it evaporates. Drip irrigation for hanging baskets and moisture monitors - consider the Reyox Soil Moisture Meter from Walmart - are handy options but there are low tech checks to try too.
'If the basket is heavy, it likely has the water it needs for the day,' says Katie. Adding water retaining granules - such as these from Lowe's , plus using these water storing basket liners from Walmart, will help conserve moisture. Alternatively consider a self watering basket with a visible water reservoir from Walmart.com
'The real problem usually isn’t forgetting to water, it’s watering too fast,' Stefan continues. 'Dried-out compost pulls away from the basket sides, so water runs straight through without wetting the roots. Water in slow passes with a 30-second pause between each. If bone dry, submerge the whole basket in a bucket of water for 30 minutes instead.'
Remove Fading Blooms
Known as deadheading, pinching or snipping off faded flowers is a speedy task that makes a huge difference to hanging baskets.
‘Deadheading promotes new growth that will continue throughout the Summer and also keeps the plant healthy during the heat,’ explains plant expert Katie Sunderlage . ‘Keeping spent or dead blooms intact can promote diseases, fungus or insects especially when the temperature and humidity rises.’
Knowing which plants to deadhead in July is key, as master gardener Tabar Gibson explains. ‘Petunias are the biggest divas in my baskets. They reward a little extra care with months of nonstop blooms. The trick is to remove not only the faded flower but also the small seed pod tucked just behind it.’
While some flowerheads easily break off with your fingertips (marigolds come away with a satisfying pop), others are best cut. A pair of micro tipped snips from Walmart are pocket friendly.
Avoid the issue of fading blooms altogether by growing self cleaning annuals that don't need deadheading.
Trim Back Growth to Restore Balance and Shape
Ok, this may seem radical but a judicious cutback in July can provide the boost basket plants need.
‘This is the step most gardeners hesitate to take, but it's often the one that produces the biggest transformation,’ says Tabar.
‘If your basket has become long, stringy, or bare near the center, don't be afraid to trim it back by about one-third. It feels dramatic, but bacopa, verbena, lobelia and sweet potato vine all respond with dense new growth within a couple of weeks.’
Depending on stem thickness, a clean sharp pair of snips, such as Corona Floral Scissors from Lowes or Bypass secateurs from Walmart, will easily handle the job.
Revive Your Basket With Fresh Plants
July is a turning point for many hanging baskets as nutrients in the compost deplete. Blooms slow and foliage becomes lacklustre, making it time to reset.
'Mid-July is actually one of my favorite times to freshen containers,' says Tabar. 'I'll remove anything that's truly finished, top off the basket with a little fresh potting mix, and tuck in a few new plants that can carry the display through late summer and into fall.'
To avoid disrupting the whole basket Stephan says, 'pull the fading plant, loosen the soil pocket, add a bit of fresh compost, press the new plant in at the same depth, and water with a diluted high-potassium liquid feed right away.' This narrow trowel with pointed tip from Target is helpful.
For sunny baskets, Tabar suggests calibrachoa, Diamond Frost® euphorbia, sweet alyssum, compact zinnias or angelonia. 'These establish quickly and blend naturally into an existing planting. For shade baskets, coleus immediately brightens the display without flowers.'
Find calibrachoa plants at Amazon as well as coleus at Amazon . We also love silvery dichondra from Burpee.
Feed Baskets Regularly
By this point in the summer, basket plants have exhausted the essential plant nutrients within the potting compost and depend on us to provide them. Liquid fertilizers, especially formulated to encourage leaf growth and bud formation are the experts go-to solution and are quick and easy to manage.
Dilute according to product instructions and use as part of your watering routine.
'Hanging baskets need regular feeding during the Summer months,' says Katie. 'Using a water soluble, slow release fertilizer tends to be the best option for continuous long-term fertilizing without root burning.'
Katie recommends using Jacks Blossom Booster fertilizer, find it at Amazon. Annuals will benefit from a weekly dose of tomato feed; try Farmer's Secret from Walmart.
What to Shop
These coco liners will give hanging baskets an instant refresh. They measure 12" in diameter and are porous to aid drainage.
This potting mix is a special blend for containers and hanging baskets. It's nutrient-rich and well-draining.
Petunias are long-blooming until fall and look beautiful cascading from a hanging basket. This one has pink and white candy stripes.
Follow these five steps and you'll be rewarded with containers that dazzle for weeks to come. Expand your repertoire by discovering the best vegetables for hanging baskets and plants for winter hanging baskets.
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