When To Buy Hanging Plants

At the garden center, one of the most frequent inquiries I receive about plants and hanging baskets is…

I ask them to repeat after me while I raise their right hand at this point.

I hereby solemnly swear that I will give this plant the appropriate amount of light.

never letting it get too dry that it starts to wilt, and watering it everyday as needed.

For the best blossoms, I’ll feed it frequently, and I’ll pinch it back as necessary to keep it healthy and in flower all summer.

If you do all of the aforementioned, you will have a better chance than most of having hanging baskets that last throughout the summer. However, it’s time to explain a little fact about those bloomers you purchased in April or May: they will begin to droop around the middle of the summer, just as you are about to enjoy your garden, host that party, or have that wedding. Therefore, you better have a backup plan. Here is my secret to keeping you in bloom all summer long.

My customers should schedule their gardens three months in advance, as follows:

  • February, January, and March
  • May, June, and April
  • August, September, and July
  • November, December, and October

For the first three months of the year, rely on your bulbs and late winter bloomers. Then, at the start of spring, get inexpensive, cheery annuals that can withstand cool weather to get the quick color you’re yearning.

These will last you until at least July, but beyond that, don’t expect them to bloom until the end of the season; expecting them to provide you with three seasons’ worth of color is simply unrealistic.

The baskets you purchase in the early spring have actually been growing since January. When you purchase them, they are already 3–4 months old, and by the time the summer’s sweltering days arrive, they are beginning to lose steam.

This isn’t always the case with baskets; some people have amazing success keeping them fresh well into the fall ( they must have followed the above pledge ). But the majority of people are not as careful, which is where they have problems.

Therefore, planting some baskets and containers before the end of May with basket stuffers and young annuals is the key to having hanging baskets that survive all summer long.

This is what I do; after that, I position those baskets throughout my home and in places where I will care for them until they are ready to take the place of my worn-out-looking baskets that have just brought me delight for the past three months.

What I did a few years ago is described here. I planted my baskets, and when my cheap spring baskets started to look worn out, I hung these up in their place. By July, they were nearly full.

When it came time for my spring Ipomea baskets to take center stage last year, I made some two-tone Ipomea baskets and positioned them in between my spring ones.

In the summer, they appeared fantastic and enormous, and in September and October, they fit well in my fall containers.

This year, I made hanging basket-convertible containers and planted them on May 22. When my spring baskets expire, I’ll hang these up in their stead because they look fantastic when set around my fire pit.

I’ll now have lovely blooms from May through October. This is what I tell people when they ask me how I keep my garden looking so great all year long: it’s all about preparing ahead. I should also mention that all I needed was some soil and some of my go-to plants to make my summer baskets. Here is my combination for my baskets and containers this year.

At the end of August or the beginning of September, I’ll upload an update photo to show you how fantastic these will look.

Download my eBook, which is filled with advice, tactics, and plant suggestions, to discover how you may have a beautiful garden all year long:

What time of year is ideal for hanging basket purchases?

Because bedding plants are typically delicate, they cannot endure harsh conditions like low temperatures, especially if they are wet and cold.

British citizens should wait to plant their hanging baskets outside until the risk of such weather has gone, according to experts from The English Garden.

They advised against planting and placing the majority of common bedding plants used in hanging baskets outside too soon, before the risk of frost has gone, because they are delicate.

The experts advised delaying the placement of your hanging basket outside until late May or early June.

How soon should I transport hanging plants?

When the temperature approaches freezing, you should bring your hanging baskets indoors. The plants in hanging baskets will perish or suffer severe harm if it freezes. Bring them inside as well during times of strong winds, snow, or hail. Your hanging plants may blow off and break windows in strong gusts.

When should I begin growing flowers in a hanging basket?

By early April, plants for hanging baskets should be thick and lush. Ten to twelve weeks before the final expected date of frost in your area, seeds for hanging baskets should be planted inside. To ensure sufficient plant growth for hanging baskets to hang nicely in the early spring, hanging basket seeds need to be introduced early.

Is it still too early to hang outside plants?

As many gardeners are aware, there is a general rule of thumb that suggests waiting until after Mother’s Day to begin planting flowers and veggies. Many people learned these admonitions from their parents and grandparents, who probably learned them from theirs. Although the recommendation is a crucial reminder that early spring isn’t the greatest time to start planting most items, should everyone abide by it? See if the Mother’s Day rule holds any water and learn how to determine the best time to plant:

Whether choosing when to grow flowers, vegetables, bushes, or anything else, the last date of frost in your area should be taken into consideration. That’s because gardening while temps still hit the 20s overnight could mean setting your garden up to fail depending on the hardiness of the plant. In light of that, how does the Mother’s Day rule fit in? Well, Mother’s Day generally denotes late spring, or the time when night and morning frosts are nearly (if not entirely) done for the year. The rule, however, does not account for hardier species or warmer climates, either of which may require different planting guidelines. The Mother’s Day rule has some merit, but it’s preferable to treat it as the general principle that it is.

How can you determine the precise time to begin planting flowers and vegetables? Finding the latest frost date for your region by conducting some online research is the key to completing this properly. It’s a fantastic place to start because the National Climatic Center website includes frost information for every state. Next, do some research on the specific plants you want to include in your garden. Based on the information you discovered about frost, decide when to plant each one.

Annuals, perennials, and bulbs all vary in how hardy they are in general. In other words, some plants thrive in chilly climates and other challenging growing environments, whilst others require just the perfect amount of warmth and sunlight. Even if it takes a few weeks before the last frost of the season, the hardiest flowers can be planted as soon as your garden’s soil can be worked. Plant sensitive flowers when there is no risk of frost for the remainder of the season, and wait to plant half-hardy flowers until a few weeks before the last frost.

Vegetables, like flowers, have varying degrees of hardiness and grow in various environments. While some crops, like beets, carrots, and potatoes, should be planted a little bit later, such as spinach and onions, should be grown in frigid early spring circumstances. Plant warm-weather vegetables like squash, tomatoes, eggplant, and basil after all danger of freezing has passed.

Quick tip: If you’re starting from seeds, you can find planting instructions on the seed packets for both flowers and vegetables that take into account the climate and frost dates in your region. Look them up online before starting with seedlings or transplanting plants.

There are steps you can do to protect your garden if you planted delicate or warm-weather crops a little too early or if you experience unexpected cold fronts that bring freezes. In order to insulate your garden with warmer air if you anticipate an overnight frost, cover it with a sheet or light blanket and then a layer of plastic. As soon as the temperatures return to normal, take off the blankets in the morning.

Are hanging baskets still appropriate now?

Summer baskets can be planted starting in April, but they need to be protected from frosts, such in a greenhouse, until the end of May. Wait until late May to plant them outside if this is not an option.

Three sorts of plants are required for hanging baskets: “Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers.” Your centerpiece plant, the taller Thriller, gives the room structure and impact. Around the main plant, “Fillers” are planted, and “Spillers” are placed at the basket’s edge to trail over.

How many plants should the basket contain? Use 12 plants in a basket with a diameter of 12 inches (30 cm), which is the standard rule of thumb. Use no more than five plants in a 30 cm basket when planting vigorously growing species, such as fuchsias or geraniums.

Summer-appropriate plants for baskets include:

  • Begonias that trail
  • Bacopa
  • Calendula
  • Calibrachoa (mini-petunias)
  • Dahlias (dwarf) (dwarf)
  • Fuchsias (upright or trailing) (upright or trailing)
  • Geraniums (thin-leaved or trailing ivy leaved)
  • Impatiens (Busy Lizzies)
  • Laurentia
  • Lobelia
  • Nasturtium
  • Nemophila
  • Nicotiana (tobacco plants)
  • Pansies
  • Petunias (available in a variety of variations, such as “Surfinia”)
  • Salvias
  • sour peas (dwarf)
  • Violas and verbenas

These may all be found easily at garden centers, nurseries, and online vendors.

Can hanging baskets still be planted?

Summer hanging baskets can be planted as early as April, but take care to protect your plants from frost. If you can’t wait until late May or early June, do so.

Are hanging baskets winter-proof?

Winter hanging baskets are relatively simple to maintain, but to keep the flowers looking their best, deadhead them. Winter watering should be done carefully, and good drainage holes should be present. There’s no need to feed them, if you do this will encourage new soft growth which will not do well in the frosts.

Can you get hanging baskets for the winter?

The wide variety of winter pansies and violas, a perennial favorite in terms of winter-flowering plants, are a fantastic resource for hanging basket possibilities.

The greatest plants for winter hanging baskets can be found here if you’re looking for jewel-like hues and tints. There are almost too many cultivars and variations to choose from, in addition to their accessibility. The Amateur Gardening team recommends the compact viola called “Sorbet Yellow Frost” (Sorbet Series) in particular since it puts on an extended display of fragrant yellow and purple flowers in the winter and spring.

They’re a terrific choice if you’re learning how to create a hanging basket for the first time because they’re also incredibly simple to plant and care for. Just be sure to cultivate them in sun or partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil.

Do hanging baskets make a yearly comeback?

Are your hanging baskets and container plants looking for a means to be revived, renewed, and given new life?

Many hanging baskets and potted plants bought in the spring start to exhibit severe indications of wear and tear as late summer approaches. What was once a happy, flourishing plant has changed into a sad, struggling plant.

The foliage is losing its leaves, and the lovely blooms that previously covered it are now few. Additionally, irrigation is essentially impossible because it simply passes through the roots.

All of the aforementioned symptoms are typical of hanging basket and container plants that are old, root-bound, and out of control. And at this point, the plant will keep losing efficiency no matter what you do.

But hold on—all is not lost! There is a method to give those shabby planters and baskets a stunning second life before you throw them out on the curb. And it’s simpler than you might think!

A Simple Solution For Saving Worn Out Hanging Baskets & Container Plants

While you can always replant baskets and potted plants into bigger containers, there are occasions when that is just not an option or a practical solution.

Finding containers large enough to work with a plant that is already enormous might be challenging. Even if you do, filling with all that potting soil can be expensive and time-consuming.

And are you really going to exert that much work on plants when they only have a short time left before the first frost?

However, there is a straightforward, inexpensive approach to give your tattered hanging baskets and overgrown container plants more vitality. And we have been using it here on the farm for years to bring vibrant late-season color for nothing!

Replant those old baskets right into your flowerbeds and landscaping to give them new life rather than dumping them on the compost pile. The fresh area and soil will not only revitalize your drooping plants but also add a vibrant burst of color to perennial bed spaces for the remainder of the growing season.

You’ll be astounded by how big and lovely those potted plants can once more grow!

The Secret To Transplanting Success

Worn-out root-bound baskets and planters can find the room and nutrients they need to grow healthy once more by being replanted directly into the ground.

Start by excavating a hole that is around 50% bigger than the potted plant’s current root ball. Remove the plant from the original basket, being careful to gently separate the edges where the roots are intertwined.

This will make it easier for the plant’s roots to find their way into fresh soil and replenish nutrients. Give the roots a good bath in water before planting to rehydrate them.

Fill the bottom of the new hole with compost before replanting, then mix equal parts soil and compost around the perimeter. The worn-out hanging basket plants will have an easy time establishing new roots thanks to the loose, nutrient-rich soil.

Finish by giving the plant a hearty dose of liquid fertilizer. It will quickly absorb the nutrients to fast return back to life because it is established and developed. See also: 4 Effective Liquid Organic Fertilizers!

For the first week, until the roots have had a chance to become re-established, water regularly or even twice daily. Your old hanging basket will quickly come back to life in a stunning display of color.

Apply a light granular or liquid fertilizer once a week to keep the annuals blooming large until the end of the season. Your plants will give you thanks by blooming again! Organics granular fertilizer product link

Here’s to giving your old planters and hanging baskets a second chance this summer! Gardening success! Mary and Jim