Hanging baskets can make a beautiful addition to any front or back garden, offering a color pop that contrasts with the building they’re hanging from.
While they’re easy enough to set up, hanging baskets do come with a few common problems.
There’s a fine line between underwatering and overwatering your flowers, and the harsh winter months can be tough if your basket doesn’t have some level of shelter.
Usually, though, anyone can successfully see their flowers bloom in hanging baskets.
If you’re looking for hanging basket inspo, Anderson’s Seed & Garden, Inc. offers plenty of it.
The store, based in Utah, annually impresses passers-by with its full, thriving hanging baskets and planters.
What’s their secret? Mark, one of the store’s employees, was kind enough to share his tips in a YouTube video for TheValleyChannel.
Mark says maintaining hanging baskets is pretty easy, you just have to be consistent.
The hanging baskets outside Mark’s store are 12-inch pots – so there’s not actually that much soil sustaining such large plants.
Mark explains that in the hot summer, it’s very difficult to rehydrate the soil, which causes it to dry out and pull away from the edge of the pot, leaving water to run around the outside of the soil and pouring out the bottom.
To make sure that water penetrates the soil, he uses a product called AqueDuct.
AqueDuct is a wetting agent, which means it allows the soil to hold more moisture. You don’t have to use this branded product; there are plenty of wetting agents to choose from.
Mark’s second tip is to use a liquid fertilizer that contains all the beneficial microorganisms that become the base of the compost heap.
Mark waters his hanging baskets once every two weeks with his fertilizer of choice.
The microbes that are introduced into the soil usually last for up to two weeks; after which they will need to be reintroduced into the soil.
In addition to liquid fertilizer, Mark uses several other fertilizers at least once or twice a week.
The video proved insanely popular, with more than 2 million views to this date.
More than 1,000 people commented beneath the video, with many thanking Mark for his helpful tips.
One person wrote:
“I’m amazed that those south facing pots look so good. I’ve struggled for years to keep my flowers hydrated and lush. Thanks for the tips!”
Someone else added:
“Incredible how much I just learned from this gentleman here in such a brief amount of time … wow , thank you so much for this video”
Some people said that Mark was trying to sell products in the video – but there’s no need to go with Mark’s suggestions if you don’t want to!
Pop to your local gardening store and ask for recommendations. You’ll get plenty of helpful, free advice on the best wetting agents and fertilizer to use.
Keen to learn more of Mark’s tips yourself? The full video is available to watch below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
