Hanging Planters

We’ve all seen the beautiful hanging planters at the local nursery. Some of us have even tried to duplicate the effort, with varying degrees of success. Here are a few pointers that may help in your next endeavour to create the perfect hanging planter for your own home.

Ideal solution

Hanging planters are a great way to counter a lack of ground space in a garden. You can access them from all sides so watering and weeding are easy and fast, while pets and small children do not have access, keeping your plants and flowers nice and safe. However, weight should be a consideration – the size of the hanging planter, with the soil, plants and water, might be a problem if not hung securely.

Before you start…

First, do you have a good location available for hanging a basket? A patio shade, a window overhang, hooks and railings are all good locations. You may have other ideas of your own. Be creative, but be cautious: electricity and water do not mix. When you’ve found your ideal location, with plenty of sun, available water source and secure hanging capability, you’re ready to choose pots and plants.

Take your pick

There are a variety of hanging planters available for nearly every style. Pots that are lightweight and easily balanced are your best choices. Metal or wire designs are popular or you can go for a more organic material such as rattan. You can even buy hanging baskets made from durable leaf material. Various fibre liners are available and moss can be used in a pot for delicate or finicky plants.

Have fun choosing the pots that appeal to you as well as the hanging accessories that show them off. Think about the plants or flowers you will be growing and pick the basket designs that will complement them best.

Plant choice

Make sure the plants you choose will be the right size for your planters when they reach full maturity. You might start with flowers such as petunia or impatiens, plants such as ivy or ferns, or herbs of any kind. Strawberries, edible nasturtium and lettuces are also favourites. Ask your local nursery expert which plants will grow best in the pots you choose. And whether you decide to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables, flowers or grasses in your pots, a mixture might be what you’re looking for. The possibilities are endless if you use your imagination.

Make your mark

Hanging planters can set the tone of a garden for years to come. So, whether you opt for a single hanging planter or a garden full of them, your ingenuity will make your garden uniquely yours.