I have hanging baskets every year and for the last couple of years have used petunia surfinias as a cheap and easy option - you only need about five plants to give a wonderful display in a large basket. This year I've decided to have a more traditional English basket with trailing ivyleaf geranium, fushias, trailing lobelia, beautifully scented pink verbena and lots of trailing ivy.
Sorry, I hate the hard green cardboard liners as they look so artificial. Out of preference I go for moss or the coconut fibre liners that you can push plants through to hang down the sides.

Hi Sunflower, I've never tried verbena I quite fancy something scented to hang outside my back door I will look for it at the garden centre. This year so far I've made up one basket with bracycombe, petunias (upright and trailing)and pelargoniums, it's still in the greenhouse until it establishes a little more. Last year I think I may have overloaded the basket it was a picture for many weeks but then the petunias died off with grey mould. I have one other basket to do this year and I think I'll give the other type of liner a go. Thanks for responding. Hope you're pleased with your baskets this year.

Hi there,
I have a hanging basket this year with strawberries, one with a trailing sweet peas and morning glories, a fushias basket with trailing geraniums and nasturtium, my last basket was reserved for a pot-luck, a sprinkle of mix seeds saved from previous year, I never know what will come up... looks interesting so far. Oh and I prefer moss, because I can plant from under the basket.

Hi Primrose
I have just found your post to uk.gardenweb.com back in May 05. It came up on the first page of a search I was doing re hanging baskets. I don't know if your are still into hanging baskets, I think they are just great. but then I would wouldn't I, as I not only make my own but I sell them at the local markets, really small time stuff.
But my reason for writing to you os twofold.
First I'm setting up/writing a book about hanging baskets for interested people and I would like to know of any experiences you have had, eg successes, failures, recommendations and so on.
Second, I have come across a new type of basket liner which is made from recycled plastic. I have been trialling it for over a year now and yes I do sell it because I think it is just fantastic. They say it will last for ten years, and if you want to repot you just wash it out and use it again.
So I hope you don't mind me emailing you.
Hope you are having wonderful success with your baskets.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hanging basket liners

moss makes the most natural looking basket...line with moss first then push your plugs or pots through..try stay asymmetrical as possile while having the same colour repeated three different sides , build it up that way ...i do hundreds a year and my best plants are..ivy leafed geraniums, verbena serenity, lolelia Cambridge blue, plectranthus, surfinia petunia, if pinched to stop them from going straggly. PS it's worth watering the moss regularly until the plants root through and a slow release fertilizer

Hi there,
for the past two years I have used liners called The Amateur's Answer. They are great! One size liner will fit all size steel or wire hanging baskets from 10 inch diameter up to 16 inch (according to their bumph) but I managed to do the bottom part of my 3 tier planter which measures 18 inches. Since using these liners I am so confident in my ability that I am in the process of making up a winter basket with Ivies, Cyclamen, Violas, Pansies and miniature narcissus.
I will let you know how it goes.
Kate
ps. to get these liners, go to their website www.hangingbasketliners.co.uk