Now available in store and ready to grow, our Kinder Plant display is filling up with plants perfect for hanging baskets, containers and boarders. Get a head start for all of your summer colour.
Here’s a few hints and tips to get you started:
Before you start, work out how many plants you need for each basket and container, considering the plant habits and how each plant will develop. There’s a simple habit classification to help you:
Plant habits vary considerably, understanding their basic form is the key to selecting the right plant for a particular position in the garden, a basket or your favourite container. All varieties are categorised into three general habit types. These are colour coded at the top of each of our picture cards and printed on the label sleeves just below the variety name.
BUSH
Definition: these varieties display a growth form that is basically upright with a height greater or equal to its width at maturity.
Use: as a rear or central planting in baskets or containers to provide height.
SPREADING
Definition: these items have a growth that is basically prostrate or flat having a spread or width greater than their height at maturity.
Use: These are the most versatile of plants. Use to great effect as mass planting or in baskets and containers either on their own, when they will creep over the edge of the basket/container, or in mixed plantings where they will ‘fill in’ the gaps between bush and trailing varieties.
TRAILING
Definition: plants having a habit that has little height preferring to creep over the edge of its container or basket and ‘trail’ over the side. Some of these cascades straight over the edge while others tumble more gracefully
Use: In basket, window boxes and tall containers. These varieties are planted towards the outer rim where their natural habit can develop freely.
It is necessary to keep these little ones warm. So, keep them in a heated greenhouse or your spare room. We would recommend potting them into 9cm pots then plant them in their final positions after the threat of frost has passed from middle to end of May.
Basic Planting procedure:
Fill your basket or container to within 2cm of the top using Miracle Gro Peat Free Multipurpose compost or Organic Multipurpose compost. At this stage it is a good idea to mix in Miracle Gro slow release plant food granules which will continue to feed your plants throughout the summer. Lightly firm the compost.
Starting at the centre, plant your bush varieties, spacing them evenly. Make a hole large enough to take the root ball and firm them in. When planted, the top surface of the root ball should be level with the compost in the basket or container. Next, plant the Spreading plants in the same manner and again with the Trailing.
Water in well, thereafter water only as necessary, allowing the surface of the compost to dry out between watering. If you have incorporated Miracle Gro pellets your plants should not need further feeding. If not, apply a liquid feed when watering as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Keep an eye out for any pests and deal with them appropriately as soon as they are spotted. Removal of dead flower heads will encourage further flowering.
Don’t forget, we have a team of experts in our plants department with a host of knowledge on how to get the best blooms. Pop in store or call us (01865 372124) to talk to a member of the team.