12:50 pm
7/23
Cheap and Chic:Hanging Baskets
My backyard was a dried up wreck until recently. For two years, we did everything we could to spur some grass growth, watering, planting and replanting, but to no avail. Finally, we gave in to the climate realities of our corner of Southern California and installed a rock garden, cactus and some other drought resistant plants. It’s a vast improvement both visually and environmentally, but there’s just not enough color. Â
That’s why I’m hoping this hanging basket from CobraCo will help the situation. It’s only about $8, and if I place a couple of them in areas that get shade and sunshine, flowers should start blooming in no time, providing a colorful contrast to the rest of the yard.
Here’s how to make the most of a hanging basket:
- make sure the basket is secure and can hold all the contents
- use lightweight, high-quality non-soil mix that’s specifically made for potting
- add water-holding crystals if the potting mix doesn’t already have them
- make sure the lining is all natural, like the liner above which is made of coconut
- add plants to the basket in layers–fill it up a few inches of soils, place the root bulb atop the soil, then add another layer and more plants–and place them close together to get the effect of fullness
- water the basket, making sure that the non-soil mix is evenly moist
- keep your basket looking fresh by removing dead and dying flowers regularly
