Hanging Baskets..

I haven't had much experience with hanging baskets, Mrs D usually does them.
I do remember we put violas in them one winter and it flowered from October through to March and only stopped very briefly when it snowed.
Alpines sound like a great idea.

 

MF - use bulbs, they look great in those circs, and I've used small evergreen shrubs in the centre for height, like the spotted laurel, or euonymus fortuneii, that sort of thing (ivy too, sorry!), and pansies or violas, of course - they really do give a nice splash of colour.

 

I would be lost without Ivy for the winter baskets, but this had a few interesting suggestions:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/fsheets/12_08_01/fsheetsq6.shtml

 

How about Vinca for some trailing interest? No flowers but would it be hardy enough where you are?

 

I have Lotus berthelotti in a couple of places. It is a beautiful plant but can be very temperamental in a hanging basket. If you water it too much and let the water stand on the ferny foliage it can get botrytis. If you let it dry out it dies almost immediately! It actually doe best in rockeries.

My Vinca has flowers on it, white with pink! :confused:

 

Roders baskets are beautiful love the colours.
Can I ask if you have not too sure what it is a type of gell?

Think this waters and feed your baskets.

Just Spectacular.

 

Thanks Scotkat.....The gell we use is a water retaining gell that looks a bit like sugar and it swells holding valuable water....(very handy this summer I can tell you)
We also add slow release granualar fertilizer as well and extra liquid fertilizer regularly through the summer.

 

Roders if I am not beeing too cheeky.

Can you give me the name of the retaining gell and slow release fertilizer.

By the way how many plants are in your basket?

Your neighbours must get a lot of pleasure.

 

Oh, sorry, MF, missed this entirely on the 8th ... :eek: No, they are not frost tolerant I'm afaid to say! If you have a warm, sunny bit protected from frost there in Glos, go for it in the rockery .. it's fantastic. I think it shows up in a few of my photos ... my cat snoozing maybe.

Also, my Vinca does not like "our" sun .. I think a wee bit too hot .. even my geraniums (Pelargomiums) prefer my shady bits here! We are really learning this summer (although we're not as hot as last year ... at 10.20 we are ONLY 29 degrees!)

 

MF, here's a pic of the Lotus ...