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Gardening Tips from The Green House

Hanging Baskets for a Sunny Spot

We now have one of the best selections of hanging baskets that we have ever had in over 20 years in the greenhouse business. The biggest mistake you can make is to put a basket that needs sun, and place it in a shady spot, or vice versa. Plants that need sun have few blooms in the shade, and plants that need shade wilt in the sun. Here is a short list of my favorite hanging baskets for a sunny spot.

If you want a basket that can take sun and the cold weather that may occur with our unpredictable springs, try a pansy basket. Nothing says "Hello Spring" like a bright basket full of colorful pansy blooms. As the weather warms up, move them around to a shadier, cooler spot. Deadheading the old blooms will encourage more blooms.

Next on my list is moss rose or portulaca. Ours is in full bloom now and loves the full, hot sun. This is one of the few flowers that can take the hot afternoon sun. Not Japanese beetle food and it is easy to grow.

Next, are bronze leaf begonia baskets. Note that I said bronze leaf begonias, as the greenleaf variety needs more shade. We have a bronze leaf red, pink, and white that are full of blooms. Like the portulaca, the begonias are easy to care for and cheerfully bloom all summer.

Lantana is next on my list for the same reasons described above, but lantana is also a butterfly magnet. Lantanas do not bloom much until later in spring (usually around the middle of May), but once they start blooming they won't quit until frost.

Lastly, don't forget the vinca baskets. Ours are small now, but vinco is the "King of Sun" that will thrive in hot areas that will wilt other plants. Keep them dry and in the full sun, but ours will not look like much until May.