How to plant a basket

Create a colourful hanging basket that blooms all season

Hanging baskets are one of the easiest ways to add instant colour to patios, balconies, and gardens. With the right plants and a few simple techniques, you can create a lush basket overflowing with flowers that lasts from spring to autumn.

What You Need

Before you start, gather the following supplies:

• Hanging basket (wire, wicker, or plastic)
• Basket liner (coco fibre, moss, or plastic)
• High-quality potting compost
• Slow-release fertiliser
• Water-retaining crystals (optional)
• A mix of trailing, upright, and filler plants

A simple planting rule many gardeners follow is "thriller, filler, spiller" — a taller focal plant, medium fillers, and trailing plants around the edges.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare the Basket

Place your basket on top of a bucket or pot so it stays steady while you work. Insert the liner and make small holes in it to allow drainage and side planting.

Add a base layer of compost mixed with slow-release fertiliser and water-retaining crystals.

2. Plant the Centre (The "Thriller")

Start with the main focal plant in the centre of the basket. This plant gives the arrangement height and structure.

Popular plants include:

• Fuchsia
• Geranium (Pelargonium)
• Small Dahlia
• Upright Begonia

3. Add Trailing Plants Around the Edges

Next, add trailing plants around the sides of the basket so they cascade over the edge as they grow. These create the dramatic "waterfall" look that hanging baskets are known for.

Great trailing plants include:

• Petunia
• Lobelia
• Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
• Trailing Verbena
• Nasturtium

Trailing plants are usually positioned near the edges or through holes in the basket liner so they can spill down naturally.

4. Fill the Gaps

Add smaller plants between the centre and the edge plants to create a full display.

Good filler plants include:

• Alyssum
• Nemesia
• Bacopa
• Ivy
• Impatiens
• Lobelia

Firm the compost gently around the roots and fill the basket until the soil is just below the rim.

5. Water Thoroughly

After planting:

• Water slowly until the compost is fully soaked
• Allow excess water to drain out
• Hang the basket in a sunny, sheltered location

Hanging baskets dry out quickly, so they may need watering daily during warm weather.

Plant Combination Ideas

Bright Summer Basket

• Petunia (trailing)
• Lobelia
• Geranium
• Bacopa

Cottage Garden Basket

• Fuchsia
• Verbena
• Alyssum
• Ivy

Pollinator-Friendly Basket

• Nasturtium
• Verbena
• Lobelia
• Calibrachoa

Care Tips for Long-Lasting Baskets

• Water regularly (sometimes daily in summer)
• Feed with liquid fertiliser every 1–2 weeks
• Remove dead flowers to encourage new blooms
• Rotate the basket occasionally for even sunlight

With good care, your hanging basket can stay colourful and healthy throughout the entire growing season.

Number of Plants

Guidelines

1. Thriller: Usually 1 main plant at the centre is enough for small to medium baskets. For large baskets, you can use 2–3 to create a bold focal point.
2. Fillers: These should surround the thriller, filling the middle space and adding texture and colour. More fillers are needed as basket size increases.
3. Spillers: Place around the edges; they cascade over the rim. A good rule of thumb is one spiller plant per 3–4 inches (7–10 cm) of basket circumference, depending on how full you want the cascade.

Julie's Top Tip

For a very lush look, you can slightly overplant the basket. Plants will grow into each other and create a full, flowing display within a few weeks.