Pots and hanging basket
The most important thing about planting up pots and baskets is to choose a really good compost. Pots and baskets tend to dry out really fast so it is important to use a compost which is not peat based. Peat based compost dries out fast and is bad for the environment.
So a compost such as John innes no 2 would be better. To help keep the moisture in the compost you could use water retaining granules. These granules swell up when wet. Place a small hand full of the granule on top of a small layer of compost within your container then place your plants on the top. It is important to place the roots of the plant near the granules. If you were to just mix the granules with the compost the roots will not stay moist and you would have granules swelling up near the top of the container which is not attractive.
Select a container which is attractive to you and one which has good drainage. Once you have your container add some extra drainage such as gravel, polystyrene or even Brocken cups or plates. This will prevent the drainage wholes from becoming blocked up with compost.
Now add a layer of compost with the water granules on top.
Now select the plants which you want to use.
When selecting plant choose ones which are attractive to you but also practical. If you don't always have allot of money choose perennial plants(Plants which will die back for the winter but will come back the following year ) such as campanulas, Ivy, lupins, Aquilegia, Achilea or even peonies if you pot is big enough. You can also mix in annual plants ( plants which last the until the autumn but will die and not come back) such as Lobelia, Begonias, Marigolds and busy lizzys.
Now you have selected you plants take them out of there existing plastic pots. Roughly arrange them in the container until your happy with there placements. Remember to place trailing plants like lobelia and ivy's near the edge of the container so that they can trail down the pot. Now fill the rest of the compost in the container ensuring that you push the compost between the plants so that there are not gaps. Allow an inch gap between the compost and the lip of the container so that when you water it the water does not spill over the edge.
You could not add top dressing to the pot if you like such as slate chippings, bark, gravel, Chipped coloured glass or even decorative stones. This will also help keep the moisture in the pot and look good to.
You could also place the pot onto pot feet which will prevent the pot from cracking in the frost.
Now enjoy you container but ensure that you check incase it needs water frequently. Moist pots will need a good soaking at least once a week. To check the pots moisture push you bear finger all the way into the pot if its dry water it if not then check it again in two days or so.
Feed the container plants with a general purpose plant feed.
Pests to watch out for:
Lily beetles are bright red and the size of a thumb nail They eat away at the leaves and buds on lilies.
Rosemary beetle is smaller than the lily beetle is very pretty with metallic aqua green with strips down its back they eat way at rosemary and lavender plants causing black/ brown patches on the foliage.
