Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has revealed the one plant he recommends adding to hanging baskets this year, claiming the straightforward addition will bring "softness, colour and fullness". Hanging baskets are a fantastic way to introduce visual interest to your garden at eye level. A wide variety of plants can feature in hanging baskets, ranging from short-lived flowers and herbs to shrubs and evergreens. With such an abundance of choice available, deciding what to select and which plants will perform best can prove rather tricky.
Alan's Secret: Trailing Plants
Alan reveals his "secret" to maintaining a basket that remains lush throughout the entire summer is using trailing plants. The renowned expert recommended adding ivy and bacopa. In his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh TikTok video, he said: "Ivy is so versatile, apart from the fact it is a perennial and keeps on going and going right through the year and into the next." He added: "You can snip it back when it gets too big."
How to Plant Trailing Ivy and Bacopa
To encourage ivy to trail from your basket, Alan advises gardeners against attempting to push the foliage through a hole in the basket. Instead, squeeze the root ball and guide it through the hole that way around. This ensures the foliage remains undamaged while the roots sit securely within the basket. The very same technique can be applied with bacopa. Once your trailing plants are positioned inside the basket, fill it with compost.
Water Storage Crystals for Summer Hydration
A further tip from Alan involves adding water storage crystals to prevent the basket from drying out. Mixed into the compost, they expand to help maintain adequate moisture levels for your plants. In his caption Alan explained: "Trailing plants like ivy and bacopa are perfect for hanging baskets, adding softness, colour, and fullness. Ivy is especially versatile thanks to its evergreen foliage and long-lasting growth. To keep baskets healthy in hot weather, mix water storage crystals into the compost. They absorb moisture and slowly release it back to the roots, helping prevent baskets from drying out too quickly and keeping plants thriving all summer."
RHS Advice on Watering Hanging Baskets
The RHS advised: "Before you fill your basket with compost consider how you will water it. Hanging baskets tend to dry out more quickly than other types of container and water can easily be wasted from them. If you have many baskets, you might consider using an automated watering system. Drip irrigation systems deliver water slowly and directly to the roots so there is less risk of wasting water. They can be used with timers but still need to be adjusted as the plants grow bigger and the weather changes. Most drip irrigation systems are designed for mains tap water use as they need very clean and pressurised water for the drippers to operate correctly."
