Create a Heavenly Hanging Basket

Hanging baskets can be planted with one plant variety, combined with different plants in a similar shade to create a block of colour, or a variety of different colours grown together to create a contrasting or complementary effect. When combining different plants in a hanging basket, use the 'thriller, filler, spiller' principle, where the tallest plants are in the centre, surrounded by smaller more compact plants and then around the edges plant your trailing plants that can cascade out and over the basket edge.

In sunny spots, that receive at least 6 hours of sunshine a day, flowering annuals and perennials like Calibrachoa, spreading Petunia, Lobelia, Pelargonium, Alyssum and Verbena create beautiful baskets. Put your colour scheme together while you're in the garden centre and work out how many plants you'll need to create a full effect.

In partly to fully shaded areas, Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas), Impatiens, Coleus, Torenia, Dichondra 'Silver Falls' and Polka Dot Plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) will provide lush foliage and floral colour.

Hanging baskets will dry out quite rapidly, particularly if they are made of porous material such as coconut fibre. The larger the basket, the more potting mix it will contain and the more moisture it will be able to hold, so bigger is definitely better. Yates Tuscan Self-Watering Hanging Baskets are a great option as they have an in-built water reservoir in their base.

Once you have your basket, potting mix and plants, part fill your basket with a good quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix and then temporarily place your plants around the basket, seeing how they look in different positions. Once you're happy, backfill around the plants with potting mix and water in well.

To keep your hanging basket looking its best, regular watering and feeding is crucial. Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food is ideal for feeding hanging baskets as you can water and feed at the same time. And trim back any wayward growth and spent flowers.

Also monitor for pests like Aphids and Caterpillars, which can be controlled with quick and easy sprays of Yates Baythroid Advanced Garden Pest Insect Killer Ready to Use.