By: Vincent Andrew
Updated: 1/2/2022
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oday is the first day of autumn and as I write this article, my geraniums and petunias are still just about holding up in their hanging baskets.
It’s easy to feel a bit sad when the brightly coloured flowers that have given us so much joy throughout summer have faded but your hanging baskets don’t have to be relegated to the shed for the next 6 months.
Is Tiling Steps Difficult?
1. Which Outdoor Tiles Are Best For The Job?
2. Step-by-Step Guide
3. How Long Does It Take To Tile Concrete Steps?
4. Purple creeping thyme
5. Aubretia
6. Ornamental grasses
7. Trailing pansies
8. Creeping Jenny
9. Convolvulus Silver Bush
FAQs
When is the best time to plant a winter hanging basket?
How many plants can I put in a hanging basket?
How often do I need to water my winter hanging basket?
If you’d like to keep your hanging baskets going and add some interest to a winter garden, keep reading to discover our pick of the best trailing plants for a winter hanging basket.
Is Tiling Steps Difficult?
Tool
Garden shears or scissors
Hanging basket bracket or hook
Trowel
Watering can or hose
Rope or twine
Ladder (if needed)
Materials
Hanging baskets
Potting soil
Slow-release fertilizer
Frost blanket or burlap
Plants
1. English ivy
An evergreen perennial, English ivy is one of the best and easiest to care for hanging basket plants. It’s a fast-growing plant that can quickly become invasive in the ground so it’s ideal to restrict it to a container.
Ivy needs plenty of moisture to survive, so if your hanging basket is in a sunny spot, be sure to give it a regular water when the weather is dry. Ivies don’t like to be too wet either so make sure that the soil doesn’t become waterlogged.
There are several different varieties of English ivy, from the variegated leaves of Goldchild and Glacier to the fine leaves of Needlepoint, you could fill a whole hanging basket with these beautiful plants.
Image credit: @succulentry
2. Trailing rosemary
Originally hailing from the Mediterranean, rosemary is an attractive, evergreen perennial which can be grown successfully in hanging baskets. Famed for its distinctively scented foliage and pale blue flowers, rosemary is easy to care for and extremely tough.
Rosemary needs a sunny spot to thrive and it can tolerate drought well, making it a great choice for year-round hanging basket displays. It will only need a monthly water during the winter.
Trailing rosemary looks fantastic in tall planters as well as hanging baskets and will be a welcome addition to a winter garden.
Image credit: @mia.witham
3. Heucherella trailing
These hardy perennial plants are perfect for adding a splash of colour to winter hanging containers. Their leaves come in many shades from deep purple to burnt orange, yellow and bright green and colours often change throughout the seasons.
Heucherellas can survive tough winters and will do best in a shaded spot, although the darker-leaved varieties can handle some sunlight.
Heucherellas can survive tough winters and will do best in a shaded spot, although the darker-leaved varieties can handle some sunlight.
Image credit: @mia.witham
4. Purple creeping thyme
Another hardy, evergreen perennial, this little herb is often used as groundcover, but it can work well in a hanging basket too. Once established, the leaves can be picked all year round. Creeping thyme bears small pink flowers in the summer and the fragrant leaves are traditionally used to make bouquet garni.
Image credit: @mia.witham
5. Aubretia
This traditional, cottage garden plant is usually seen cascading down stone walls. Masses of purple flowers appear in summer but the evergreen leaves remain throughout the year.
Try adding aubretia to your hanging baskets for a change from the usual container plants. The green foliage will provide interest throughout winter and you’ll be rewarded with an impressive flower show during the warmer months. Aubretia likes a sunny spot and these plants are very drought tolerant when established.
Image credit: @mia.witham
Pros
Evergreen plants in winter hanging baskets provide greenery and color during the dull winter months.
They can be placed in a variety of locations, such as on a porch or patio, and can add a festive touch to outdoor spaces.
Evergreen plants are durable and can withstand harsh winter weather conditions.
Hanging baskets can be used to add visual interest to a blank wall or fence.
Cons
Evergreen plants in hanging baskets may require more maintenance than other types of winter decorations.
They can be expensive to purchase and install.
Hanging baskets can be heavy, so they may require extra support or reinforcement.
If not properly cared for, they can dry out and die during the winter.
Choose the right plants: During the winter, the plants that will thrive in hanging baskets are the ones that can tolerate the cold weather. It’s important to select plants that will not only survive but also add color and interest to your garden during the winter months.
Some options include:
Winter-flowering pansies
Ornamental Kale
Skimmia
Winter-flowering heathers
Euonymus
Cyclamen
Violas
Before adding the plants to the baskets, make sure to clean them thoroughly and add fresh soil. You can also add a little bit of slow-release fertilizer to the soil to provide extra nutrients for the plants.
Be cautious not to add too much fertilizer as it could burn the roots of the plants and cause damage to the plants in the long run.
It’s better to use a lower concentration of fertiliser and apply it more frequently than using a higher concentration less frequently. This way you can ensure a steady supply of nutrients to the plants without causing damage.
Once the baskets are prepared, you can start adding the plants. Make sure to plant them in a way that will allow them to cascade over the sides of the basket. This will provide a more natural and attractive look to your hanging baskets.
You can also add some evergreens for added interest and to provide a green foliage throughout the winter. This will help to give a more natural look to your baskets and provide a contrast to the seasonal plants you have chosen.
Once the baskets are planted, you can hang them in your garden. Make sure to hang them in a location that gets some sunlight, but is also protected from the wind. This will ensure that the plants receive the right amount of light to thrive, while also being protected from the harsh winds that can dry out the soil and damage the plants.
You can also add a layer of mulch around the base of the baskets to help keep the roots warm. This will help to insulate the roots of the plants and keep them protected from the cold weather. Additionally, using a bracket or hook that can swivel or rotate, to allow you to move the basket around to catch the sun, is a good idea.
Glossary
Hanging basket
A hanging basket plant is a type of container gardening that is suspended from a hook, bracket, or other type of hanger. These plants are usually small to medium-sized, trailing or cascading varieties that are well-suited for indoor or outdoor use.
Outdoor plant
An outdoor plant is a type of vegetation that is grown in an outdoor environment, such as a garden, yard, or park. These plants are able to tolerate the natural elements, such as sunlight, rain, and varying temperatures, and are typically hardy and well-suited for cultivation in a variety of climates and soil conditions.
Garden decor
Garden decor refers to decorative elements or accessories that are used to enhance the appearance of a garden, such as statues, fountains, bird baths, ornaments and so on. These items are chosen to add visual interest, create focal points, or provide functional elements to the garden.
Remember to water the baskets regularly and to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If a frost or freeze is expected, make sure to protect the baskets by covering them with a frost blanket or burlap. These materials will help to insulate the plants and protect them from the freezing temperatures. Also it’s important to fertilize them every 4-6 weeks, to keep them healthy and looking good through the winter.
Keep in mind that the plants are dormant during the winter, so they will not require as much water as they would during the growing season. However, they will still need regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist. Additionally, if you notice any signs of pests or diseases, take action promptly to prevent them from spreading and causing damage to your plants.
The best time to plant your winter hanging baskets is between September and October. Summer flowers will have died back by this time. Be sure to refresh the soil in your hanging baskets when adding new plants.
The number of plants you can fit into a hanging basket depends on the size that the plants will grow. Many trailing plants will grow considerably larger than the pots they are bought in. We suggest adding 3 or 4 trailing plants to an average-sized 12-inch hanging basket. You might want to place a dwarf evergreen conifer, cyclamen or upright pansies into the centre of the basket for added interest.
Although you won’t need to water a winter hanging basket anywhere near as frequently as a summer one, it’s recommended that you give the basket at least a monthly water. Feeling the soil in the basket is a good way to see if the plants need water.
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Vincent Andrew writes about gardening as a way of life. When he’s not freelancing, taking long walks, or meditating, he divides his time between his bookcase and greenhouse. He is a vegetarian, cat and dog friend, and likes to watch black and white films when it rains. He doesn’t mind classical music.
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