Autumn Colour – An Easy Eye-Catching Autumn Hanging Basket

Head of Dairy Diary; I’m passionate about producing high quality products that our customers will cherish. I’m also a mum of three and I enjoy cooking, walking, gardening and art with my family, as well as lino printing (if I find time!)

An easy eye-catching autumn hanging basket

We often think of hanging baskets as the preserve of summer, but with the right choice of plants, an autumnal hanging basket can be equally lovely.

Most of us create (or buy) hanging baskets in spring and summer, but they can look equally lovely in autumn and even winter. A few carefully chosen plants and aggregates can ensure colour and interest at a time of year when other blooms are beginning to fade.

This easy autumn hanging basket uses a gorgeous selection of heathers, evergreens and stones and should see the display looking brilliant until the beginning of winter.

What you’ll need

You’ll only need a few items, and half an hour of your time to make this stunning basket.

Plants

Two plants of bell heather (Erica Cinerea).
Thyme (Thymus serpyllum variety with variegated leaves).
Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium ‘Purpureum’).
Variegated rock-cress (Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii ‘Variegata’).
Dwarf conifer – this is a really tiny spruce (Picea).

Equipment

Hanging basket frame, wires and hook.
Hanging basket liner (plastic, hessian, felt or moulded paper).
Gritty ericaceous (acid) compost.
A few stones and/or pebbles.
Fine gravel or grit as a topping.

Instructions

Insert a thick layer of liner into the basket – prick small drainage holes through if necessary.
Half-fill the lined basket with very gritty ericaceous compost – good drainage is essential here.
Plant the dwarf conifer first, right at the back of the basket. Set the bell heather plants on either side of the conifer, then firm in all three.
Adjust the level of compost in the basket as needed for the other plants, then plant the thyme on the left and the stonecrop on the right, with the variegated rock-cress in between. Firm in and top up the compost to within 2.5cm (1in) of the rim. Water lightly.
Arrange the stones and/or pebbles between the plants to give the appearance of a mini-rockery, pushing them into the compost for stability. Finally, spread a 2.5cm (1in) layer of fine gravel or grit on top.
Hang the basket against the wall on a sturdy hook. The gritty compost and pebbles will make the basket heavy, so ensure that it hangs securely.

Tip

Give the thyme a quick squeeze with your fingers as you pass by for a burst of herby, spicy fragrance.

Notes

The dwarf conifer won’t stay ‘dwarf’ for very long. Check its likely height and spread after five years before buying. These have a terrible habit of turning into giants alarmingly quickly. Remove it from the basket before it gets too big and heavy and plant in the garden.