The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 3 Summer 2012 | Page 11

The Zimbabwean Gardener
Colourful combinations

Hanging

them

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kets are st
your brac
m at eye
Make sure
. Hang the
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you don’t
and we
below so
re
or slightly
level
nd make su
e basket a
n’t forget
k up at th
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ou do
isible so y
asy to do
they are v
, it is so e
ter them
t hanging
to wa
son for no
ey
nother rea
so. A
h is that th
ts too hig
to weed,
our baske
y
ssible
asily acce
ed.
must be e
ead and fe
deadh

I always find planting one colour of
the same plant such as all red petunias
or a basket of rose star busy lizzies,
gives you a splash of colour. Suddenly,
by adding one basket of mixed colours
of the same plant, this striking contrast
can act as a focal point to your cameo of
baskets. Plants, which are ideal for this,
are petunias, busy lizzies, vinca, pansies,
violas, and geraniums.
Should you wish to plant up a mixed summer
annual basket, use dwarf zinnias, lemon drop
marigolds, lobelia, alyssum, portulaca, busy lizzies, verbena
and summer petunias to mention but a few. The choice for winter
baskets is far greater: a mix of pansies, dianthus, alyssum and deep blue lobelia
are a delight. Never forget the good old faithful petunia, these however, are better
planted on their own and not in a mixture.
The variety of plant material available to us for hanging baskets
is vast. Seek advice from your local nursery to find out what
small sub shrubs, such as fuchsias, begonias, diamond frost,
are suitable. Never forget the faithful stalwart, the fern. These
do especially well in a strong hanging basket, because many of
these epiphytes can remain in this container for a number of
years.
Useful ferns for this purpose are Adiantum
(Maiden hair ferns), Davallia (Hare’s foot
fern) and Cyrtomium (Holly fern).

Maintenance
The most important thing to do is
water your hanging baskets regularly.
On a hot summer’s day, you may well
need to water your bas