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Tips for gorgeous hanging baskets!
*Choose plants with trailing stems so that they will hide their
container from view when fully grown, or use wire baskets lined
with moss for a more natural look. You can also hide a plastic pot
by sinking it in a wooden woven basket and hanging it with S-hooks
in 3 places spaced equally apart and small gauge chains.
*Hang baskets planted with fragrant flowering plants at nose level
near the front door for a refreshing pick-me-up when entering and
leaving.
 *Choose
plants suited for the same growing conditions for the same basket.
Plants such as impatiens and ferns which are shade lovers won't
grow well with geraniums that love the sun.
* Use dark green or silver-grey leaved plants to fill in between
those that bloom in bright colors. Asparagus Fern and Dusty Miller
Artemesia are great choices for this.
* Water every day. You may wish to place another ground sitting
container of plants under your hanging baskets to benefit from the
run off of water and liquid fertilizer from above. Hanging baskets
placed up high on pulleys makes lowering them for watering a breeze.
* Stagger the heights of 3 or more baskets for a dramatic effect.
* Choose colors and plants suitable to the location the basket
will be hung in. For example, red and white geraniums in a sunny
location look fabulous when hung near a window painted with blue
or dark green trim.
*In windy locations, use swivel hooks to allow the baskets to rotate
360 degrees. This makes the wind less damaging to the plants and
reduces the chances of your baskets being broken in falls.
*Plants with vivid colors and large blooms work best in hanging
baskets that will be seen from a distance. Geraniums and tuberous
begonias are excellent choices here.
* Consider mixing dramatically different textures of foliage when
choosing your plants. This adds texture to your arrangement and
heightens the visual interest.
*If using a basket with widely spaced slats, the sides and bottom
of the container may be planted as well as the top. Simply cut slits
in the moss liner and insert the root ball of the plant into the
soil. Make sure to pay special attention to these plants when watering
as they dry out the fastest. Use a watering can with a small spout
and stick it directly into the slit when watering.
* Use long trailing vines like periwinkle or trailing nasturtiums
to reinforce the drama and romance of a hanging basket. These vines
may grow up to 3 feet or more!
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