How do I use my metal hanging basket?
- First of all ensure you've a hook secured to the wall or fence you wish to hang your basket from. You'll need that later!
- Line your hanging basket with a hanging basket liner. Ensure you pick a size that corresponds to the diameter of your hanging basket. We'd strongly recommend choosing something natural such as our jute hanging basket liners. They're biodegradable, absorbent and breathable, making them an excellent choice for most plants.
- Fill your lined hanging basket loosely with compost. It's a good idea to pick a compost that has good nitrate content, such as our 100% natural organic sheep's wool compost. Nitrates are essential for plant growth and strength, so it makes sense to give your precious plant an ample supply!
- Make a hole in the centre and gently pot your plant as per its planting instructions. Ensure you gently firm it into place so it's nice and secure.
- Why not sprinkle a few wool pellets on top of the compost? They're excellent natural slug repellent, and they're fabulous at storing water - ensuring your plant stays hydrated between top ups.
- Hang up your basket and enjoy!
Once your plants have finished flowering simply empty the basket carefully, taking time to detangle the roots. You can then separate the plants and re-pot them. If you do this, you're able to hang different varieties of plants depending on the season, and as a bonus, will have some lovely potted plants ready for next year!
Seasonal hanging basket ideas:
Hanging baskets aren't just for summer! Spruce up your planters year round with a variety of different plants.
Spring flowers?
- Opt for a basket full of yellow Daffodils, or pastel purple Crocuses!
- Why not curate your basket with some spring greenery? Add a few bulbs of Allium or Dill to break up the wall of colour.
Want a summer bloom?
- Go bright and bold! Choose a variety of brightly coloured Marigolds, Petunias, Lilacs and Hibiscus. You've all the colours of the rainbow to choose from for a vibrant summer basket.
- Why not think ahead to the summer heatwaves and pop a layer of protective shillies on top - keep the water in the soil where it should be!
Autumn colours
- Look no further than Crocosmia, Sedum or Aster. Not only do these plants have a wonderful colour palette, they're resistant to the channging autumn temperatures too.
- You could also try a mini-tree hanging basket. Take advantage of those beautiful changing leaves and hang a little dwarf Japanese Maple and admire those colours. (Don't forget to pot your tree after you're finished!)
Cheer-up winter basket
- Dreary cold weather? Don't despair. Winter flowering Lavender, Pansies and Snowdrops will still happily bloom. They're perfect for a cheery winter basket!
- Worried about harsh frost? Keep a warm layer to hand such as our sheep's wool garden fleece. Simply give your basket a woolly jacket in preparation for those extra cold days of midwinter.
Why do you sell metal hanging baskets?
Hanging baskets are widely available, you'll find them lining the shelves of most garden or DIY centres - they're pretty easy to get a hold of really. But, nearly all baskets available in shops or online contain plastic (even the wooden ones)! It's actually incredibly tricky to get your hands on a hanging planter that's entirely plastic-free - which is why we added one to our range.
Although wooden or plastic hanging planters do the job, they're just not of the same caliber as a crafted metal hanging basket. Wooden ones tend to break down after a couple of uses and plastic ones, well...they're made of plastic!
Avoiding plastic is also one of the kindest things you can do for the environment. Our constant use of plastic products has led to all kinds of biological disasters. From plastic pollution in the ocean physically harming aquatic wildlife, to 'biodegradable' plastics leaching microplastics into the water table and food chain. Plastic is everywhere and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon. So, why not ditch the plastic garden products in favour of the crafted metal kind?
Our hanging baskets are made entirely of metal, with a readily recyclable powder paint coating. So, no tacky plastic cover, making these metal hanging planters entirely plastic-free!
Metal is a fantastically eco-conscious choice. Not only is it easy to recycle, it's also incredibly strong and durable. It's perfect for hanging planters you can use again and again. Remember, re-using is one of the most environmental choices you can make, so pick gardening products you can use year in, year out.
How long will my hanging baskets last?
Ages! You should be able to use them for several years. We chose these particular planters because they're easy to re-use. If you choose to pop a single season plant in there, you can simply remove and compost the plant, leaving the basket ready to use next season. We particularly like this variety of hanging basket because of the powder paint coat - it's less likely to crack than plastic coated options. If your metal hanging basket does eventually perish, it's incredibly easy just to pop it into your home metal recycling.