Hanging Basket The gigantic hanging basket -- 3 feet in diameter -- will be prepared in a series of layers. Once the sphagnum moss has soaked thoroughly, it's time to start the first layer. Steps: - Add a layer of soil to the giant premossed basket (the basket shown will require nine five-gallon bags of soil).
- For plants that will grow on the exterior wall of the basket, such as the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium Niponicum 'Pictum') shown (figure A), make small openings in the moss at the soil line and insert the plants into the soil from the outside of the basket (figure B).
- Push presoaked sphagnum moss into the basket wall around the plant to anchor it in place and prevent soil leakage. As plants are added up the basket wall, increase the level of soil to keep them in place.
- When the exterior walls are completed, insert the driftwood into the center of the basket. Arrange so that the design of the driftwood is most pleasing when seen at eye level, which is the correct hanging height for the completed baskets (figure C),
- Begin to surround the driftwood with your chosen plants (figure D). The plants shown here were chosen to be compatible with midwestern zones. Check your local nurseries and garden centers for plants that are compatible with your climate. Plants that are grown as plugs are easy to insert in container walls and do minimum damage to the root system of the plant during planting. If these are not available, look for plants that are available in cell packs.
In addition to the Japanese painted fern, the following plants were used in the basket: - Golden Japanese forest grass(Hakonechola Macra 'Aureola') -- used in clusters surrounding the driftwood
- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum)
- River Nile begonia (Begonia X Hybrida), used at the back (can also be used along the basket walls for additional fullness).
- Variegated geranium (Geranium Yoshinoi 'Confetti'), planted in the back (this geranium is cold hardy; just clip the foliage off at the soil line during winter)
- New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens New Guinea) (figure E)
- Ground ivy (Glechoma Hederacea), added around the edge to provide trailing foliage.
- Add sphagnum moss to cover any soil, in the same way that you would mulch the garden.
Half Basket Temporarily attach the basket to a cinderblock or similar support using wire to hold them together. This allows you to fill the basket in an upright position. - Insert mother fern (Asplenium Bulbiferum) through the premossed basket walls, using additional moss to hold the plants in place (figure F).
- River Nile begonia and New Guinea impatiens complete the basket planting.
- As before, add sphagnum moss between the plantings.
RESOURCES :
Soil Amendments
Soil amendments
Whitney Farms
Website: www.whitneyfarms.com
Simply Beautiful
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com
Simply Beautiful
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com
Plants from Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com
Garden Maker Software
Garden Maker Software
Email: mo@moplants.com
Website: www.moplants.com/garden_maker_software.html
Vietnamese Decorative Wine Jars
Item #5-6081
Asian Ceramics Inc.
Website: www.asian-ceramics.com
Hanging Sphagnum Moss Basket & Half-Baskets
Item #48MB
48" sphagnum moss basket with heavy-duty 6-strand chain hanger
Item #18MHB
18" sphagnum moss half-basket (wall pocket)
Topiary Art Works and Greenhouses, LLC
Clearwater, KS 67026
Phone: 620/584-2366
Website: www.topiaryartworks.com
Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Portland, OR 97221-3540
Phone: 503-977-7808;
Fax: 503-244-2745
Website: www.terranovanurseries.com
Hanging Plant Drip System Kit
Contact: Roy Curnuck
Water Flute Enterprises
Levittown, NY 11756
Phone: 516/735-2566
Email: waterflute@optonline.net
Website: www.waterflute.com
GUESTS :
Frank McDonough
E-mail: frank.mcdonough@arboretum.org
Website: www.arboretum.org
Glen Williams
Garden Manager, Fullerton Arboretum
California State University at Fullerton
Email: gwilliams@fullerton.edu
Website: www.arboretum.fullerton.edu
Rick Estridge
Horticulturalist
Roger's Gardens
2301 San Joaquin Hills Road
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
Phone: 949-640-5800
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