Hanging baskets, window boxes and containers are great for summer bedding displays, especially when space is limited. Keeping them well watered is essential and you may find this easier if you add water-retaining gel to the compost as you make the display up or better still try using the newly introduced re-usable water slices.
Remove the old flowers as they die off (to save the plant wasting precious energy making unwanted seed) and most plants will just carry on flowering through the summer.
Busy Lizzies and Fuchsias are amongst the best plants for a continuous display, as you can use the range of upright or weeping habits to provide a variety of colourful growth and attractive flowers. Use trailing types around the sides and upright types in the top.
There is a wide choice of baskets available these days which are all easy to plant up but if you prefer the more traditional moss-lined wire basket here's how to plant it up:
| Line the bottom of the basket, place 1 to 3 water slices in the bottom (to hold up to 2 weeks supply of water), add a layer of compost and position the first plants about one-third of the way up from the base of the basket. |  |
| Add more lining and compost before inserting the second layer of plants. |  |
| Position more plants in the top of the basket and place them facing out towards the basket rim to give them more room. |  |
| For more tips on baskets and containers see our Growing & Care Guides |  |
1, Add the first layer of compost and plants
2, Place more plants at the next layer
3, Distribute the remaining plants over the top
4, The young plants will establish quickly
