Introduction To The Hanging Garden
'Hanging Gardens' awaken visions of exotic gardens smelling of Jasmine. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, fabled to be built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to console his homesick bride Amyitis did not hang in the air; they were in fact an overhanging terrace garden created on an artificial mountain. The hanging garden that we speak of is not so exotic so as to be a wonder of the world. It is an elegant hanging basket of decorative plants that is a garden in itself and can adorn even the tiny patio of a small home.

Description of Popular Types
Hanging gardens can be either flat to decorate walls, two sided saddlebags for hanging over rails, or round baskets that can be hung on balconies or patios. Generally the hanging garden is made up of a combination of complementary flowering plants and trailing vines that grow to give a lush miniature garden of flowers and leaves. Single species or monoculture plants can also make elegant hanging gardens for example 'Supertunia' Trailing Petunias. The selection of plants determines the success of the hanging garden. Even herbs like thyme, oregano and rosemary, and some salad plants like lettuce and miniature tomatoes can be grown in hanging gardens. Larger plants are more suitable for container gardens than hanging gardens.

Planting Hanging Gardens

Containers for Starting a Hanging Garden
Containers or hanging baskets are usually plastic-coated metal wire baskets. Some have added features such as solid liners, water reservoirs etc. Others are available in plastic, ceramic and terracotta clay.

The basket with the compost, lining and fully-grown plants becomes heavy when watered. Therefore they should not be too big; about 10-12 inches is the preferred average size.

Liners
Baskets were traditionally lined with sphagnum moss to hold the soil and the plants in position. However, coconut fiber (coir) is a popular substitute, as it does not strain nature. Wood fiber liner and solid liners are other alternatives. If moss is used, soak the moss overnight in warm water. In case of coir lining, spread a plastic bin-liner against the lining and trim off at the edge of the basket. The edges may be covered with tubing to prevent injuring the vines or stems when they grow.

Compost
Hanging gardens need special compost, as their requirements are different. Ordinary compost with water-retaining gel and slow-release fertilizers can be a successful substitute.

Planting Your Hanging Garden
The plants vary in their growing habits as well as in their requirements of sun, water and fertilizers. Care should be taken in the selection of complementary plants for a mixed basket. Hanging gardens are best planted in early spring and they appear most decorative through summer and autumn. Hanging gardens should look good from below, as they are largely viewed from a low level. This depends on the selection of plants as well as the pattern of planting.

Spoon in about 2 inches of compost. Make a few slits through the liner on the sides of the basket at soil level, where you intend to plant some of the trailing vines or plants. Wrap the entire shoot system of the plant in paper. Hold it horizontally in the basket near the slit and slowly draw out the paper-covered shoot through the slit till it is on the outside of the basket and the root balls near the soil against the lining. Remove the paper. Alternately, you can cover the root ball with plastic and insert it into the basket through the slit from the outside. Repeat at the other sides of the basket so that you have 4 plants spaced evenly round the basket. Firm the soil round the roots. Add soil till it is about 2/3rd of the container and repeat with another 4-5 plants. Finish up with planting at the top of the basket. Small bushy plants are best planted at the center and trailing plants on the sides.

Some popular trailing vines which can be grown alone or in combination are the Spider plant, German Ivy, Wandering Jew, Sweet Potato Vine, Licorice Vine, and Plectranthus.

Some flowering plants like Petunia, Begonia, Calibrachoa (Million bells), Bacopa (Bridal showers, bridal bouquet and flowers through all seasons), Lobelia, Lantana, Ivy Geranium, Pansy, Strawberry etc., are also good hanging garden plants. Boston Fern is another favorite.

Caring For Your Hanging Garden
Hanging gardens need very little soil as compared to the number and density of plants growing in it. Therefore it is necessary to ensure adequate moisture as well as fertilizers in the basket. Hanging gardens need watering every day. Care should be taken to see that the basket is not hung where there is a strong wind, which would sway the basket. Adequate sun as well as shade should be ensured. Dead flowers should be removed to enhance the overall appearance as well as to encourage new blooms.
Mixed hanging gardens need to be renewed annually and monoculture ones need repotting.

These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory