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Good
maintenance can prolong the life of your
basket, ensuring healthy, beautiful blooms
that last a long time.
 WATERING
Living wreaths and hanging or wall mounted
baskets tend to dry out faster than potted
or in-ground plants. Therefore, you may
need to water them daily, particularly
when the weather is hot, dry or windy. The
moss should be slightly damp at all times.
To achieve this, fill the basket with
water several times, or until water drips
from the base. You can also dunk the
basket in a tub of water. During the warm
months, watering daily is essential,
especially in the south. During the cooler
weather, watering can be slowed to every
two days or so.
FERTILIZER
Regular doses of fertilizer are essential
to keep the baskets, wreaths and topiaries
alive and blooming. To promote rich,
attractive growth, it's best to fertilize
weekly from spring through summer, or
whenever your region is in it's peak
growing season. Use a complete liquid
fertilizer, diluted to one quarter of the
recommended monthly amount starting two
weeks after the initial planting. If
liquid fertilizer is inconvenient, add
time-released fertilizer to the soil mix
before planting. Reapply according to
fertilizer product directions.
TRIMMING
Trimming is a special part of basket
maintenance. By trimming old flowers every
two or three weeks, your basket can stay
at its peak for a long time. Certain
plants, such as lantana, bougainvillea,
Swedish ivy (shown), and verbena, require
little trimming. Others, such as begonias
and impatiens, are usually shaped into
balls of color and require a "hair cut"
more often. When your basket starts to
deteriorate, you can choose to dispose of
the plants and replant or you can severely
prune the basket back. If the plants are
salvageable perennials, they will grow
back. If you have seasonal plants in
combination with perennials, replace them
and start production again.
PEST
CONTROL
Common pest problems include mealy bugs
and spider mites. Fungus can also become a
serious issue, especially during the
warmer months and if the baskets are being
over watered. Your local pest control
service and some garden centers are the
best places to consult for diagnosis and
treatment of the problem.
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The Care
and Feeding of Living Bouquets
