HOW TO MAKE A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY HANGING BASKET THIS SUMMER

Not everyone has oodles of space and here at Wild Marlow we know that everything you do, however small will go towards our goal to provide habitat, food, water and safe passage to the many species that need our help.

We love this hanging basket, a quick howto from Gardeners World will get you going, so enjoy. We reckon this could be a great gift too!

'Planted up with annual bedding plants, hanging baskets are typically devoid of wildlife value. Plant up an alternative, packed with pollen and nectar for bees, instead.

Many hanging basket arrangements use bedding plants, which tend to be double-flowered, or are bred for long-lasting colour at the expense of nectar and pollen. This hanging basket display uses single-flowered bedding plants known for their attractiveness to wildlife, resulting in an attractive display that also provides food for bees and other pollinators.

Here, we’ve used conifer branches and lawn moss to line the basket. This not only has recycling value but provides hiding places for insects. The plants are widely available from garden centres – petunias and calibrachoas have blooms that attract moths, while verbena, lobelia and heliotrope are appealing to butterflies. The small white flowers of lobularia (sweet alyssum) attract tiny, beneficial wasps that help control garden pests, while bidens and diascias are great for bees.'

For full article plus a step by step guide go to
https://www.gardenersworld.com/.../wildlife-friendly.../
Image source and content: Gardeners World

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