Hanging baskets for Autumn/Winter, advice please! ?

ExD, the swivel hooks don't spin around on their own. I have to give the hook a helping hand, probably due to the weight of the basket.

I can't offer help Phoenix but your comment about trailing labia had me laughing very loudly! ☺

Phoenix do I remember that you won a prize for your baskets last year or year before ? I'm ready to plant up some autumn bulbs and trailers and will make a start next week-end.

How do swivel hooks work shysal?
I've looked at the pictures in the link but they look as though a slight wind will have them twisting and turning round and round?
I've found winter pansys rather disappointing after the first flush of flowers. I got mine a couple of years ago from Thompson and Morgan, and even with diligent deadheading they only lasted 3 or 4 weeks. (Just my experience).
I like greenery trailing over the sides too, ivy seems to be the only thing that can cope with the cold and frost - so other suggestions would be nice too.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.

phoenix

Chewbacca that would mean buying another basket, and currently my spending is being curtailed as I've spent money on clematis plants, breathable membrane etc

I don't know if you have heard of freecycle? It's in most areas in England I think. People list what they want to get rid of to a new home (I put a whole load of hanging baskets this year as I had far too many of them and they all found new homes.) The point of the website is that it's free in that people give their things away for free, so it saves stuff going into the tips and landfill sites. I've found it very useful this year when I have been decluttering and giving away things that I no longer need or want.

NotTooOld wow, I would be snapping his hand off at that price, round here it costs much more than that when you provide your own container. Lucky you!

I had winter pansies in hanging baskets and also in pots last winter and some of them are still flowering now! They look so colourful and brighten many a miserable morning. I'll be doing the same this year. I usually buy my plants from Morrison's as that's easy for me to get to.

Patsy70 has mentioned all that I would recommend. I have little bright green conifers and ivy in mine all year round and just change the flowers.

I do think that having a spare is a good investment as the flowering seasons overlap a lot some years.

While on the subject of baskets, I suggest a swivel hook. I remember your difficulties turning a heavy basket round last year, which prompted me to buy some. I turn a little every time I water.
Swivel basket hooks.

He charges £15 for one or £25 for two, not cheap but they are big and well filled.

I think that is extremely reasonable NotTooOld
Where is he?!

It's Thompson & Morgan, Paddyanne . If you planted your own, I would suggest variegated ivy, cyclamen, a small evergreen fern, hellebores, with bulbs underplanted.Quite a few Winter plants to choose from.

No problem Phoenix, the summer one will be over by the end of the month anyway and you'll still have plenty of time to replant it with winter/Spring stuff; especially if we have a mild autumn.

My local gardening centre recommended the wintering flowering pansy too, so I have just planted that in one basket. I am fairly new to this, so am watching with interest. My late mum would have been so pleased, she loved gardening and I never took an interest When she was alive, in fact I was rather scathing. (Holds head down with embarrassment).

Anyway, here’s hoping this thread will produce some useful tips!

Chewbacca that would mean buying another basket, and currently my spending is being curtailed as I've spent money on clematis plants, breathable membrane etc

Plant up a new basket now, ready to replace the summer basket when it gets bedraggled?

Thanks to all who posted, your advice is appreciated!

Chewbacca will give you suggestion serious consideration, however, I would find it really hard to evict healthy plants to make room for my Spring ones!

Empty your summer baskets as soon as you think that they're looking bedraggled Phoenix and clean out the basket liners (sometimes pests like woodlice and bugs lurk in there and they wont do your winter/Spring plants any good) start off with a fresh layer of new compost, about 1/3rd full. Put in a layer of Spring bulbs, like small daffodils (tete a tete is a good one) or dwarf iris or crocus or muscari. Another layer of compost to cover the bulbs. Then put in the plants like pansies or cyclamen or villas or bellis. Also try to squeeze in a bit of Ivey to trail over the sides and soften the edges. Finally, top up with the last of the compost, making sure that all the plants are well anchored in. I've attached a photo of bellis; it lasts for months and months and is very hardy.

I usually plant up my own hanging baskets but this year being what it is I have ordered two from a local grower. He charges £15 for one or £25 for two, not cheap but they are big and well filled. He also delivered them, cash on delivery. I am very pleased with them and feel I have also supported a local business. Worth looking on your local facebook page, perhaps?

Thank you paddyanne will take a look, although if I do plant for the coming seasons, I would be wanting to plant up for Spring/Summer during May

try the Morgan and Thompson website ,lots of good things there .I just ordered a winter flowering pansy that I had last year and it survived right through to July ,cant complain about that .We're north of Glasgow ,so if it can thrive here should be no problems where you are