The essential gardening task you need to do to make your hanging baskets flower and last all summer
IF you've recently been to a garden centre and bought yourself a gorgeous hanging basket, you'll need to listen up.
Many of us will have hanging baskets outside our homes, but if a very crucial gardening task is avoided, they will not survive the summer.
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So if you want to ensure your baskets look beautiful all summer long, you've come to the right place and will need to take notes.
According to gardening experts Jim and Mary Competti at This Is My Garden, many hanging baskets will experience foliage fading and scarce blooms during hot weather.
They warned: "Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer.
'In fact, sadly, some don't even make it to late spring without their foliage fading, and their once plentiful blooms becoming more scarce with each passing day."
And it turns out that keeping hanging baskets in bloom is a mean feat if you're unequipped with the right advice and tools.
As a result, the gardening maestros stressed that gardening enthusiasts "need to fertilise" hanging baskets to keep newly planted baskets flowering.
However, fertilising hanging baskets is not a one-time task, but rather one that should be done regularly.
Hanging basket plants have restricted soil available for energy absorption and cannot spread out to seek additional nutrients, which makes this process incredibly vital.
Subsequently, Jim and Mary warned that without fertiliser, hanging baskets "simply will not be able to survive the entire summer".
And it turns out that timing is essential when it comes to feeding.
Cheap ways to bring vibrant colours to your garden all year round
Unlike roses, which can be fed just a few times a year, plants grown in hanging baskets need a slow and steady stream of nutrients.
Therefore, adding too much too quickly can encourage the roots and foliage to expand too fast, as the gardening pros recognised: "The result will be a plant that outgrows its basket and stops blooming because of it.'
Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs
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Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives.
1. Clean your garden
Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks.
2. Weeding
Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round.
3. Hedge maintenance
Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat.
4. Composting
Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage.
5. Look after your lawn
Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
So if you want your hanging baskets to impress this summer, you should opt for a liquid fertiliser that contains more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen.
While nitrogen promotes growth, phosphorus and potassium are essential for blooming.
Unfortunately, most baskets that are purchased or planted in the early spring don't make it past mid-summer
Jim and Mary Competti, at This Is My Garden
Not only this, but a light dose of fertiliser should be applied to your baskets every 10 to 14 days for best results.
Additionally, West Coast Gardeners recommended a 15-30-15 water-soluble fertiliser with micro-nutrients.
They explained: "You can either use it every second watering at full strength, or use it every time you water, but at half strength."
8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden
Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots.
Tricyrtis
A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'.
Penstemon
I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes.
Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata'
With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it
will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade.
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'
A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your
garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period.
Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'
If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers.
Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange'
A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days.
Rosa 'Noisette Carnee'
A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November.
Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel'
I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade.
To ensure your hanging baskets thrive, simply dilute the fertiliser with water to ensure a lighter dose.
But note that if you have forgotten to water your baskets and they have become bone dry and the plants are wilted, you should avoid fertilising them.
Instead, water hanging baskets regularly and wait until the soil has absorbed enough clean water to become soft and the plants have perked up.
Following this, you can then safely continue your regular fertiliser schedule.
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