Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
HANGING baskets are a beautiful way to add a burst of colour by your front door or in your outside space. However, planting them out too soon can risk them dying off. When is the best time to put hanging baskets out?
By Aimee Robinson
How To... Plant a Hanging Basket
Hanging baskets are a cheerful addition to late spring and summer gardens, but placing them out too soon can run the risk of your flowers dying off early. This is because typically popular bedding plants are used to make up the colourful displays.
Related articles
- ‘They won’t come back’: How to remove dandelions from lawns
- Royal fans divided over Princess Anne's 'crowded' living room
READ MORE
- Pests: ‘Inexpensive’ and ‘simple’ way to get rid of woodlice
Bedding plants are usually tender, which means they cannot survive in harsh conditions such as low temperatures, especially if wet and cold.
According to experts from The English Garden, Britons should wait to plant their hanging baskets outside until the risk of such weather has passed.
They said: "Most popular bedding plants used in hanging baskets are tender, so don’t plant them up and put them outside too early, before the risk of frost has passed."
The experts recommended waiting until late May or early June before putting your hanging basket outside.
READ MORE:Weeding tips: ‘Super effective’ way to naturally kill paving weeds
Hanging baskets are best placed outside in late May or early June. (Image: Getty Images)
Best tips for watering your garden (Image: DX)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
However, if you have a greenhouse, you might be able to get things started sooner.
The experts added: "To get a headstart, if you have a greenhouse you can plant them up earlier in spring, grow them on under glass, and then put the already established basket outside at the end of May or early June."
Hanging baskets are notoriously difficult to keep at their best, however, so following the correct care routine is essential.
The English Garden said: "A glorious hanging basket is hard to beat. Done well, they make a real impact, full of flowers and colour.
DON'T MISS
Cleaning: Mrs Hinch fans share ‘easy’ hack to get rid of ants in homes [COMMENT]How to keep foxes, badgers and cats out of your garden [INSIGHT]Tomato plant growing tips: When to move tomato plants outside[EXPLAINER]
"But if they’re to live up to expectations, hanging baskets are quite high-maintenance and take some looking after."
In order to keep your flowers thriving, the experts recommended a "dedicated" watering routine.
Your basket will likely need watering every day and should drip water for at least 20 minutes after.
If your basket isn't doing that, it may mean you have not watered it enough.
Have you had success with hanging baskets? Share your top tips in the comments section below
Related articles
- 'Biggest kept secrets of gardeners' to grow perfect tomatoes
- The 7 plants in your garden you didn't know were poisonous
Get the latest three-day weather forecast where you live. Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea
Windy weather or extreme heat can also do damage to your hanging basket.
If such weather is forecast, it's worth moving your hanging basket into a sheltered or shaded spot for a few days.
Topping up the nutrients in your hanging basket compost can also be a major help in making sure your plants reach their maximum potential.
The experts recommended feeding with tomato fertiliser at a quarter strength around once each week.
Related articles
- ‘Surprisingly effective’ way to banish weeds at ‘zero cost’
- How much water do tomato plants need?
- Japanese knotweed hotspots for 2022 unveiled - is your area affected?
Flowers Plants Garden Gardening
IPSO Regulated Copyright ©2024 Express Newspapers. "Daily Express" is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.