Plant a Hanging Basket for Summer

When to Start: Late spring
At Its Best: Early to late summer
Time to Complete: 2 hours

Plants in This Basket:

Materials Needed:

• sturdy wall bracket
• pencil
• electric drill with masonry bit
• level
• lead masonry anchors and lag screws

• wrench
• large hanging basket and liner
• scissors
• multipurpose compost
• slow-release granular fertilizer

Position Wall Bracket

The most successful hanging baskets are the largest, because they hold greater quantities of soil and water and are less prone to drying out. However, big baskets require strong brackets fixed securely to the wall. Place the bracket on the wall and check that it's vertical with a spirit level. Use a pencil to mark the positions of the screw holes.

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Drill Holes

Remove the bracket, and using an electric drill with a masonry bit, drill holes through the pencil marks. You will find this easier if you drill the holes into the mortar rather than the bricks. Push a masonry anchor into each hole.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Attach Bracket

Place the bracket back on the wall and line up the holes. Insert a washer and coach bolt and screw it into the wall using a wrench, as shown. A ratchet wrench makes this job easier. Repeat for the second hole. Tighten both lag screws fully to secure the bracket to the wall.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited