What Are the Prettiest Trailing Flowers for Hanging Baskets?
What Are the Prettiest Trailing Flowers for Hanging Baskets?. When it comes to planning a garden or landscape, it's important to consider many different dimensions. Gardeners must choose a design for the ground, but should also consider elevated growing situations, like hanging gardens, to give their landscape variety and depth. The best flowers...
When it comes to planning a garden or landscape, it's important to consider many different dimensions. Gardeners must choose a design for the ground, but should also consider elevated growing situations, like hanging gardens, to give their landscape variety and depth. The best flowers for hanging gardens are those that overflow their containers to cascade down into the air.
Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums grow in both standard and vining varieties, and grow well in hanging baskets as either type. Choose a standard variety to grow bushy, rounded additions or a vining variety to tumble and hang. Nasturtiums sport heart-shaped leaves in solid or mottled green, with wide blooms in yellows, golds, reds and oranges. Plant nasturtiums as seeds in spring, in quick-draining soil with an addition of peat or compost. Nasturtiums require full sun but prefer infrequent waterings, and like the top inch of their soil dry. According to Life on the Balcony, these are great flowers for beginners, as they're quick and relatively easy to grow.
Petunias
The University of Minnesota Extension calls petunias the most popular flowering annuals in the garden, noting that the flowers are bright and lovely, with summer-long blooming and a sweet fragrance. These trailing flowers do well in crowded hanging gardens and bloom through the summer in pinks, purples, reds, yellow, oranges and whites. Plant petunias in deep, quick-draining soil with organic compost or peat, and use only pots with drainage holes. Keep petunias in full sunshine, with feedings twice a year and weekly waterings.
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea brings a unique, tropical feel to any home, with paper-thin leaves and flower bracts that come in pink, red, purple, white and orange. These are vining plants that require a wall or trellis when they're growing upward, but tumble and trail beautifully in a hanging garden. Plant bougainvillea in loose, quick-draining soil in hanging gardens with drainage holes, and keep them in full sun at all times. Bougainvillea won't grow or bloom if it doesn't get enough sun, but will bloom almost year-round under bright, sunny conditions. Feed bougainvillea monthly with 10-10-10 fertilizer, and water the plants once a week when their soil begins to dry.
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