Project Guide

How to Plant an Autumn Hanging Basket

Hanging baskets are not only for summer.

With the right combination of plants, an autumn hanging basket can bring colour, foliage and texture to your entrance, patio or garden as the traditional summer display begins to fade.

The most successful autumn baskets are designed for changing weather. They combine seasonal flowers with attractive foliage, trailing growth and plants that continue providing interest even when flowering naturally slows.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose a suitable position, prepare your basket, arrange the plants and care for the finished display throughout autumn.

Need to know

Make sure the bracket and fixings can support the basket’s full, wet weight.
Choose plants that suit the amount of light and shelter available.
Use a suitable liner and fresh, good-quality compost.
Make sure excess water can drain freely.
Combine seasonal flowers with foliage and trailing plants.
Arrange all the plants before planting.
Leave enough space for the plants to develop.
Water thoroughly after planting.
Check baskets beneath porches because rain may not reach them.
Reduce watering as temperatures fall and growth slows.

Step 1

Choose the Right Position

Before choosing your plants, decide where the basket will hang.

Check whether the position receives sun, partial shade or mostly shade. Also consider how exposed it is to wind and whether a porch, roof or wall will prevent rain from reaching it.

Choose somewhere the basket can be seen and enjoyed without obstructing a doorway, pathway or window. Make sure you can reach it safely for watering and regular maintenance.

Step 2

Check the Basket and Its Support

An autumn hanging basket can become surprisingly heavy once it contains compost, plants and water.

Check that the bracket is firmly attached and that the chains, hooks and basket are in good condition. The support must be strong enough to hold the basket safely when the compost is completely wet.

If you are reusing an old basket, remove the previous plants and compost, clean it thoroughly and replace any damaged liner before replanting.

Step 3

Prepare the Basket

Fit the basket with a suitable liner that will hold the compost while allowing excess water to escape.

Fill it with fresh, good-quality compost, gently firming it as you go without pressing it down too heavily. Leave enough space at the top so that you can position and plant everything without compost spilling over the edge.

Good drainage is particularly important during autumn because cooler conditions mean the compost dries more slowly.

Step 4

Choose Plants with Different Roles

A balanced autumn basket should include more than flowers alone.

Choose a central or slightly taller plant to provide shape and structure. Add seasonal flowering plants for colour, foliage plants for longer-lasting interest and trailing varieties to soften the basket’s edge.

Every plant should suit the same light and moisture conditions. Combining different shapes, colours and textures will help the basket remain attractive even when flowering begins to slow.

Step 5

Arrange Before You Plant

Place all the plants on top of the compost before removing them from their pots.

Position the taller or more structural plant near the centre, then arrange flowering and foliage plants evenly around it. Place trailing plants close to the outer edge so they can grow naturally over the sides.

Turn the basket as you work and check that the colour, height and texture look balanced from every important direction.

Step 6

Plant with Future Growth in Mind

Remove each plant carefully from its pot and gently loosen any tightly circling roots.

Plant each variety at approximately the same depth at which it was previously growing. Fill around the roots with compost and firm it gently to remove large air pockets.

Avoid squeezing the plants too closely together simply to make the basket look completely full. Leaving some space allows them to establish properly and develop into a healthier, more natural display.

Step 7

Water and Hang the Basket Safely

Water the basket thoroughly after planting and allow the excess water to drain away.

If possible, do this before hanging it so you can check that the compost is evenly moist and every plant remains securely positioned.

Lift the basket carefully because it will be considerably heavier after watering. Make sure the chains are even and the basket hangs level before stepping away.

Step 8

Keep Your Basket Looking Its Best

Check the compost regularly, but always feel beneath the surface before watering. Baskets beneath porches may receive very little rain, while exposed baskets can remain wet for longer during cool autumn weather.

Remove faded flowers, damaged foliage and fallen leaves to keep the display tidy and healthy.

As temperatures fall and growth slows, the basket will need less water. Protect it from becoming permanently waterlogged and check that strong winds have not loosened the bracket, chains or plants.

From the grower

Alan's Top Tip

It is tempting to choose an autumn basket entirely for the flowers you can see on planting day, but flowering will naturally slow as temperatures fall.

Use foliage, texture and trailing growth to form the foundation of the display, with flowers adding seasonal colour around them.

This means the basket will still look balanced and attractive later in autumn, even when fewer flowers are being produced.

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