What to do
- Use a range of summer bedding plants to suit your chosen colour scheme, and change them throughout the year to reflect what's in bloom.
- Prepare compost by mixing controlled release fertiliser granules and water-retaining gel with peat-free multi-purpose compost.
- Unhook a chain from the basket and add the basket liner. Cover this with the bin liner and cut off the excess.
- Put a 2.5cm (1in) layer of compost in the basket. Make three slits around the sides and add trailing plants.
- Fill to three quarters with compost and plant three more plants around the side.
- Continue to fill with compost, leave a 3cm (0.75in) gap between the top of the compost and lip of the basket, and plant the top.
- Water well and hang outside when all risk of frost has passed.
Garden centres stock a variety of liner material. Avoid sphagnum moss that has been gathered from the wild as it's not a sustainable crop.
