How To Hang Baskets

Learning how to hang baskets is a fantastic way to add color and life to your home, whether you have a sprawling garden or just a small balcony. This easy step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need, from choosing the right plants to securing your display safely.

Hanging baskets create instant visual interest at eye level and above. They’re perfect for growing trailing plants and maximizing your growing space. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a beautiful display all season long.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Gathering your supplies before you begin makes the whole process smoother. You probably have some of these items already in your shed or garage.

Hanging Basket: Choose from wire, plastic, coco fiber, or woven styles. Ensure it has an attached chain or rope for hanging.
Liner: For wire baskets, you’ll need a liner to hold soil. Moss, coco fiber, or pre-formed plastic liners work well.
Potting Mix: Use a high-quality, peat-free potting compost. Look for a mix with water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertilizer for best results.
Plants: Select a mix of thrillers (tall, center plants), fillers (bushy plants), and spillers (trailing plants).
Tools: A trowel, gardening gloves, scissors, and a watering can with a long spout.
Hanging Mechanism: A sturdy bracket, hook, or shepherd’s crook. Make sure it’s designed to hold significant weight when wet.

Choosing the Perfect Location

Where you hang your basket is almost as important as what you put in it. Most flowering plants need plenty of light to preform well.

Sun Exposure: Check the plant tags. Full sun means 6+ hours of direct light. Partial sun is about 4-6 hours. Shade lovers will scorch in too much sun.
Accessibility: Hang your basket somewhere you can easily water it. If it’s too high, you’ll neglect it.
Wind Shelter: Avoid excessively windy spots that will dry out plants quickly and damage fragile stems.
Structural Safety: Always hang from a secure joist, beam, or a wall plug designed for heavy loads. Never hang from gutters or loose fascia boards.

Step 1: Prepare Your Basket and Liner

If you’re using a wire basket with a moss liner, soak the moss in water first to make it pliable. Line the basket evenly, creating a layer thick enough to hold soil without leaking. For pre-formed liners, simply place it snugly inside the basket.

Step 2: Add Your Potting Mix

Fill the lined basket about one-third full with your potting mix. Gently firm it down, but don’t compact it too tightly. You want roots to be able to grow easily through the soil.

Step 3: Plant the Sides (Optional)

This trick creates a ball of flowers! Make small holes in the liner’s sides. Carefully push the root ball of a trailing plant through from the inside. Cover the roots with more soil. Repeat around the sides before moving to the top.

Step 4: Plant the Top of the Basket

Now, plant your centerpiece ‘thriller’ plant. Surround it with your ‘filler’ plants. Finally, add your ‘spiller’ plants near the edges so they can cascade over the side. Leave about an inch between the soil surface and the basket rim for watering.

Step 5: Water Thoroughly and Secure the Hanger

Water the basket slowly until water runs out of the bottom. This settles the soil around the roots. Attach your chains or ropes securely to the basket’s attachment points, ensuring they are even in length.

Step 6: Hang and Adjust

Lift the basket into place using your secure hook or bracket. Check that it’s level. Give it one more light watering and let it drain before you consider it done.

Essential Tips for Basket Care and Maintenance

Your work isn’t over once the basket is hung. Consistent care is the key to a long-lasting display that your neighbors will envy.

Watering: This is the most crucial task. Check baskets daily in warm weather. Water until it flows freely from the bottom. In peak summer, you might need to water twice a day.
Feeding: Because you water so frequently, nutrients wash out quickly. Feed with a liquid fertilizer every one to two weeks to keep plants blooming vigorously.
Deadheading: Regularly remove faded flowers by pinching them off. This encourages the plant to produce more blooms instead of setting seed.
Trimming: If some plants get leggy, don’t be afraid to give them a light trim to encourage bushier growth.
Seasonal Changes: Swap out plants as seasons change for year-round interest. Pansies are great for spring, while fuchsias love the summer heat.

Troubleshooting Common Hanging Basket Problems

Even with great care, issues can pop up. Here’s how to fix the most frequent problems.

Basket Drying Out Too Fast

If your basket needs constant watering, try these fixes. Move it to a slightly shadier spot. Incorporate more water-retaining granules into your soil mix next time. You can also choose a plastic basket instead of porous wire and moss.

Plants Look Leggy or Stop Flowering

This usually signals a need for more food or light. Increase your fertilizing schedule. Make sure the basket gets enough sun for the plants you’ve chosen. A good trim can also stimulate new, bushier growth and more flower buds.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellow leaves can mean two opposite things. They often indicate over-watering, so let the basket dry out a bit more between waterings. Conversely, they can also mean hunger—a sign the plants need a good feed.

Weak or Broken Hanging Hardware

Inspect your hooks and brackets regularly for rust or bending. The weight of a watered basket in a strong wind is much higher than you think. Upgrade to a more robust system if there’s any doubt about it’s strength.

FAQ: Your Hanging Basket Questions Answered

What is the best way to hang a basket without a drill?

You can use a shepherd’s crook stand placed in the ground or a large pot. For walls, look for heavy-duty adhesive hooks rated for outdoor use and high weight capacity, but these are best for very light, small baskets only.

How many plants should I put in a 12-inch basket?

A 12-inch basket can comfortably support 5 to 7 plants. Use one central thriller, two or three fillers, and two or three spillers. Overcrowding stresses plants and competes for resources.

How do I stop my hanging basket from dripping?

After watering, let it drain fully before re-hanging. You can also place a drip tray underneath, but empty it regularly. Another trick is to add a layer of sphagnum moss at the bottom of the liner, which acts like a sponge.

Can I leave my hanging baskets out in the winter?

It depends on the plants. Summer annuals will die with the first frost. You can plant winter-hardy baskets with ivy, small conifers, and winter pansies. Always ensure your hanging hardware can withstand winter weather conditions too.

What are the easiest flowers for a beginner’s hanging basket?

Petunias, geraniums (pelargoniums), begonias, and fuchsias are all reliable and provide lots of color. For foliage, sweet potato vine and trailing lobelia are almost foolproof and grow quickly.

With this guide, you have all the information you need to create stunning hanging displays. Remember, the secret is in the daily care—a little attention goes a long way. Soon, you’ll have a beautiful, flourishing garden in the air.