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An impressive picture from blog-reader Kremer after my post on super-easy containers for shade. He used the same formula–something spiky, something trailing and something in the middle to create this stunning hanging basket.
Hanging baskets are tough. They dry out quickly. But Kremer, who must be our Northern-most reader in Princeton NJ, needs to elevate his flowers away from hungry ground hogs and the deer.
Must work–his basket looks very happy.
By the way–Kremer may live in NJ, but he has deep Southern roots. His green thumb hails from down here…
Well done.
Back in my North Carolina garden–another update as the Violet Queen Zinnias start to pay off. Love this annual which is about 44 inches tall now, branching and blooming well. 
Not nearly so impressive when I started seeds outdoors in little newspaper pots. (check out my May 14 post)
My splendid zinnias had humble beginnings
Zinnias, Manos Beauty, and Celosia were my last round of seedlings and more than worth the trouble. These plants should only look better as time goes by and will bloom right up to frost.
Another annual from my last flat of seeds--Manos Beauty
Why did I use newspaper pots? Lots of heat loving annuals resent transplanting. Transplant shock sets seedlings back and in summer heat, some never really recover. But newspaper pots break down quickly, much faster than peat pots which seem to hang around forever. And newspaper is free–It’s my favorite way to start a late crop of seeds.
It also helps if you stake the zinnias after transplant. Helps get them off to a good, strong start.
So what’s paying off in your gardens? Send us your photos–share your successes. August is a great time to make plans for next spring and summer. Stay cool.
You know when you go to Lowes or Logans…or any other nursery and there are these beautiful hanging baskets that are outrageously priced. Well, I found out an easy and inexpensive way to have glorious hanging baskets every year under $10.
It is all about the formula.
- You need a hanging basket. I found some really cool ones at Tuesday Morning between $5-$10. The best part about these is that you can use them year after year. They are really interesting metal ones..a little heavy but very posh looking. If you have any passion around keeping it “green” and reusing things year after year–this is the ticket! Not to mention the savings year after year.
- Now pick your flowers–1,2,3. Most of these plants cost a dollar or less.
- First find an upright annual. The cool part is that usually these plants are labeled accordingly, so you get to just pick out what you like and the colors you fancy. Total no brainer. I like to choose a variety. In one of my baskets I have some decorative tall grasses, in another I have a couple of Zinnas, and in another, I picked this random one out. Never seen it before, so it will be a welcomed surprise.
- Next choose a mounding annual. I feel like these are the most common when you are looking down the isles. I have a begonia in one, some lantana in another verbina in another and a geranium in another. Lots of choices here. Go ahead…mix it up a little.
- Finally choose a trailing annual. These are really fun to me. You can choose sweet potato vines, blue haze, wave petunias, and much, much more. These trailing plants in the middle of summer make my deck look like the Gardens of Babylon.
The last step is assembly. You take the hanging basket, add soil/compost mixture. Then you put the upright annual in the back, then the mounding annuals in the middle and the trailing annuals in the front. Water. Voila. Unique, fun and way less expensive hanging baskets for you to enjoy all summer.
What are you favorite hanging basket combos?
Happy Gardening.
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You Should Grow That! 