Beautiful planting

Mark Lane, from BBC Gardeners’ World and BBC Morning Live, shares some tips on arranging a hanging basket.

“Before going to the garden centre or shopping online,” he says, “make some notes and a shopping list. You will need: a basket, a liner, compost, water-retentive granules, plants and a slow-release fertiliser. Handy extras include a strong chain, hooks, rawl plugs or a metal bracket.

“Fashions come and go, but I think good reliable plants such as fuchsia, pelargonium, petunia, surfinia, calibrachoa and trailing plants such as hedera, lobelia, bacopa, dichondra and helichrysum work best. Herbs and wildflowers also make excellent specimens in hanging baskets. For a modern twist, why not plant up succulents like echeveria, dischidia and sedum?

“Decide on the style of basket – metalframed with a liner, plastic with removable slots for positioning plants or a natural willow basket. Ideally, you want the basket to be sheltered from strong winds and placed in full sun or partial shade.

“Traditionally sphagnum moss is used to line the basket, but ready-made liners are available to buy. Mix in some water-retentive granules and a slow-release fertiliser (unless the compost already comes with both).

“Start by inserting a few plants through slots in the side of the hanging basket. Upright plants can go in the middle of the basket at the top, surrounded by more cascading plants. The more you can fit in, the better the display. Firm the compost around the plants as you go.

“Aim for the hanging basket to hang at eye level or just below so that you can enjoy the flowers. They can dry out quickly, so water at least once a day — either early morning or late evening. Rotate the basket so that all sides get some sun.

“Six weeks after planting, start a weekly liquid feed, a tomato or seaweed feed for example and don’t forget to remove dead flowers regularly to prolong flowering.” persuaded to publish his lectures on the history of Auchterhouse.

“Inglis commented that beadles of yesteryear would tour churches during services to ‘wauken sleepers, to drive out the dogs, and remove greetin’ bairns’. Those who did fall asleep were woken by ‘the vigorous application of a tar brush... a weapon peculiarly efficacious, in the estimation of old Angus beadles, for the prevention and suppression of church sleeping’. Churches nowadays are, hopefully, more welcoming places.

“Many worshipping at home at present (through computer, radio, telephone or television) miss church fellowship. It’s funny to imagine how some of our sleepy ancestors might have longed for so safe an option!”

Dundee City Churches and the Nethergate as they looked in 1960. Read more at the top of the left-hand column. Picture: University of Dundee Archive Services.