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 Positioning Hanging Baskets
A well-watered hanging basket filled with compost and plants can be a very heavy object. It is too late to be looking for a place to hang it when it has already been planted up. In some instances it may be possible to attach baskets to existing beams or overhead ironwork, which must be strong and sound. If the basket is to be suspended from a bracket or attached directly to a wall, the bracket or basket should be screwed into drilled holes, which in brick walls need to be filled with wall plugs. As a general rule, avoid fastening wall baskets directly against house walls as there can be a risk of damp penetration. A swivel connection between the chains of the basket and the support is very useful, simplifying maintenance and allowing all sides to be turned to the light.
The position of a basket must also allow for easy watering. At any height above eye level you will need steps to get to it. Most good garden centres stock a range of raising and lowering devices that are attached between the basket chains and the bracket or hanging hook. These then give a really easy way to raise and lower the basket to a more convenient height for watering and maintenance. Be careful to check the maximum load weight of a Raiser before purchasing.
 Essential Materials
A wide range of materials can be used to create an effective hanging basket. Most conventional kinds are based on a fairly open frame that can be lined to hold in a lightweight compost that will provide the anchor and nutrients for plants. An open framework allos plants to be inserted at various levels in the basket so that their mature growth eventually conceals the frame. Most commercially made frames are of plastic coated wire, with diameters ranging from about 25cm (10in) to 50cm (20in). Other frames of the same basic construction have one flat side and are for attaching to walls. The largest of thes are in the shape of hay racks.
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