Baskets of colour to perk up autumn

March has ushered in cool, wet autumnal weather and with it comes the opportunity to plant lush, flower-filled hanging baskets to take us through winter into spring.

Unlike Europe, which is ablaze with hanging baskets and mixed containers in summer, autumn is our best time for hanging baskets. The cooler temperatures mean that flowers don’t frazzle in the heat and the soil doesn’t dry out as fast.

Pelargoniums are the most colourful and low-maintenance fillers for hanging baskets that receive morning sun, while trailing begonias are tropical beauties for dappled sun or bright shade.

Pelargoniums traditionally have been garden plants, but plant breeders have been focussing on hybridising compact plants with greater flower power for smaller gardens, balconies and patios.

Pelargonium Tacari is an ivy-leaf geranium that produces large, showy flowers above the leaves. Plants fill out into a rounded shape, 30cm high and 45cm wide and keep their compact shape.

The colour range includes hot and cool pink shades, a variety of reds and a soft lavender.

Pelargonium Tacari.

Marcada is a strong-growing interspecific geranium that flowers prolifically but drops its dead flowers, so there is no need to deadhead.

It is semi-trailing, with a spread of 45cm, which makes it suitable for hanging baskets and it tolerates heat, as well as cooler conditions.  It is drought tolerant, needing to be kept drier than other geraniums.

Pelargonium Villetta stands out for its striking bi-coloured single blooms that appear hand-painted. The flower colours include red with white brushstokes, and burgundy-edged white petals.

It is also compact but well-branched which results in more flowers. All three varieties do well with plenty of winter sun.

Water regularly and thoroughly, but let the soil dry out in-between watering. Feed every two weeks.

Begonias are fail-safe basket fillers for shadier spots.

Begonia boliviensis Bossa Nova is a vigorous, trailing begonia that overflows hanging baskets with cascades of large, fuchsia-like scarlet, pink or white flowers that drop off cleanly when finished.

The slender leaves are also unusual, arrow-shaped and neatly serrated.

Begonia Bossa Nova.

It flowers through autumn and might die down in winter but will come back in spring. It does well in rich, moist and well-drained soil.

Partial shade is best, but will tolerate full shade, although it will produce fewer but larger flowers. Keep it sheltered from the wind.

A new begonia for hanging baskets is Funky and its double blooms are also very different. The extra-large, richly coloured flowers dangle from weeping stems on well-rounded plants.

Plants have a height and spread of 20cm, with large, serrated olive-green leaves that show off the colours of the flowers.

Plants tolerate more sun as well as shade but thrive on a mix of morning sun and afternoon shade. Keep the soil consistently moist but never sodden. Feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month.

The best baskets are wire mesh, a coir liner and some plastic for lining the inside of the coir. Make four holes in the plastic for drainage.

Use potting soil and add a slow release fertiliser or water-retaining mix.

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