Hanging baskets are a great way to add color and dimension to your garden or deck, but it can be daunting to know where to start. Brooke Edmunds, an Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist, offers some expert tips to help you create stunning hanging baskets using the 'thriller, filler, spiller' approach. This technique involves a taller plant in the middle, clumping plants to fill in, and trailers around the edge. Thrillers include upright geranium, nicotiana, salvia, daisy, and heliotrope, while clumpers like upright geranium, marigold, lantana, mounding petunias, nemesia, and coleus are ideal. When designing your basket, consider the mature size of the plants and match them to the conditions they will receive, ensuring shade lovers and sun lovers are not mixed. Edmunds recommends choosing a lightweight container, using quality potting mix, and avoiding garden soil. She also suggests blending in slow-release fertilizer and applying water-soluble fertilizer mid-season if needed. Additionally, leave about 1 inch of space between the soil surface and the rim for watering, and deadhead plants weekly to keep them blooming. By following these tips, you can create beautiful hanging baskets that will be the envy of your neighbors.
