HOW TO HELP YOUR HANGING BASKETS THRIVE

Choose the right liner. A moss or coconut coir liner enables plants to breathe and allows trailing plants to break through more easily. Soak the liner overnight before planting up. Hanging baskets dry out quickly, so use a water-retaining, peat-free compost mix and water daily in summer if necessary.

If the compost does dry out it will be hard for water to soak in. Gradually increase moisture with small, frequent watering, or sit the basket in a bucket of water for a few hours to rehydrate.

Mix slow-release fertiliser, such as seaweed pellets, into the compost when planting, or boost nutrients with a homemade nettle or comfrey liquid feed throughout the growing season.

Harvest ripe fruits such as tomatoes or strawberries regularly and snip herbs and salad leaves to promote new growth and prevent the plant from bolting.