This pretty hanging basket combination has a lovely cottage garden feel, and is ideal for sunny or partially shaded spots. Water generously – twice a day if it's really hot – and feed regularly with a high potash fertiliser to promote new flower growth.

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You Will Need

  • Pink geranium plants, e.g. Pelargonium 'Oldbury Duet' (5)
  • Purple petunia, e.g. Petunia 'Purple Velvet' (3)
  • Purple nemesia, e.g. Nemesia 'Nesia Purple' (5)
  • Hanging basket and liner
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Slow-release fertiliser
  • Water-retaining granules

Step 1

Lining the hanging basket
Lining the hanging basket

Suspend the basket in a plant pot, to make planting up the sides easier, and add a coir liner, preferably one with holes in the sides. Fill the basket two-thirds with compost, mixed with a couple of handfuls of water-retaining gel and slow-release fertiliser.


Step 2

Planting geraniums in the side of the hanging basket
Planting geraniums in the side of the hanging basket

Plant up the sides with two each of the geraniums and petunia, gently pushing the rootballs through the holes from the outside to avoid damaging the leaves.


Step 3

Trimming the hanging basket liner
Trimming the hanging basket liner

In the centre of the basket, plant the nemesias, and alternate the rest of the geraniums and petunias around the edges. Trim away excess coir lining, to tidy the display.


Step 4

Watering the hanging basket
Watering the hanging basket
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Water the plants thoroughly, allowing the basket to drain fully before transferring it to its bracket.

Kevin Smith says...

Use a liner that’s bigger than the basket you’re planting – this will prevent water spilling over the sides and the compost drying out too quickly. Use plastic from an old compost bag to create a secondary, water-retaining liner.
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