Have you ever brought home a beautiful hanging basket full of an assortment of bright and colorful petunias and geraniums, only to have them turn yellow and begin wilting after a few weeks? You’re not alone. Many people face this problem with their hanging baskets. The good news is, it’s an easy fix! Ace Hardware of Fort Collins has rounded up a few of our best tips for how to keep those baskets looking vibrant and beautiful.

Use Fertilizer: Fertilizer is crucial to keeping your hanging baskets lush and beautiful. Because the baskets are watered so frequently, the nutrients pass through the soil very quickly and need to be replaced. Ace Hardware of Fort Collins recommends Miracle Gro fertilizers made specifically for feeding plants. One option is the garden feeder that connects to your hose and distributes the correct ratio of fertilizer to water when you water your baskets. Others include soluble or liquid fertilizers that must be diluted with water first since a full-strength fertilizer can burn the roots and the leaves of your plants. While hanging baskets must be water every day (or more often), they only need to be fertilized once every 2-3 weeks during the spring and summertime. Decrease to once every 6 weeks in the fall to help the plants prepare for dormancy during the winter.

Watering: Plants in baskets need to be watered more often than those in the ground because their roots are constricted in a small area. This allows them to absorb water much more quickly. The pots also dry out faster since they are exposed to heat and wind. Each plant will have different moisture requirements, so if you have multiple baskets, check them periodically. If any seem dry, give them a thorough watering.

Deadheading: Many blossoms, and especially petunias (very common in hanging baskets), require deadheading. When the blossom itself dies off, it will often remain on the plant, wilted and unsightly. It’s important to remove these wilted parts so that the plant can put its energy into growing new blossoms. They can be removed with your fingers by pinching off the dead portion.

Our helpful staff at Ace Hardware of Fort Collins will help you select just the right hanging basket for your home and help you choose correct fertilizer as well. Swing by Ace Hardware of Fort Collins at 1001 E Harmony & Lemay today!