Step one: Select the size of wire basket that you want to use. The larger the basket, the more plants you will be able to put in and the more colorful it will be. (Also, the heavier it will be, so make sure the hooks are strong enough to support it!)

 Step two: Choose a suitable liner: moss or cocoa fiber both work well. Line the basket with your chosen liner. It should be about 1" above the top of your basket.

 

Step three: Fill the basket with Warner's Organic Potting Soil about halfway full. Mix a slow-release fertilizer into compost and water well. Remember that the plants that are suitable for a hanging basket are also high-feed plants and therefore will need continual fertilizing throughout the season.

If you are worried about the hanging basket drying out, you can incorporate Soil Moist crystals into the soil. Remember to use them sparingly. Water them into the soil and leave the basket for approximately three hours before planting into the soil. The crystals can cause the soil to expand dramatically, so this will give you the chance to remove any excess that may occur. Remember that you will have to adjust your watering techniques to account for the use of the polymers. (Be careful not to overwater or the roots will rot!)

 

Step four: Choose your plants! It's always a good idea to lay out the plants in the pattern that you would like to see them in the basket prior to planting. Choose something taller for in the middle with trailing plants around the edges to drape over the side. Remember the basket will be hanging, so you want a plant that is tall enough to show up from below. It adds interest if you choose plants with different textures and colors that accent each other. Keep in mind when you are choosing colors that bright colors (reds, yellows, and oranges) seem to advance toward you, while cool colors (greens, blues, and pastels) move away from you.

 

Step five: Add the side plants to the container first. (These are the plants that will trail over the side of the basket). Gently loosen the roots of the plants before placing into the soil. Add soil as you go to ensure that the roots are completely surrounded by soil. Continue adding plants until the basket is full. Fill around the plants with soil. Water the basket.