Alan Titchmarsh makes a winter hanging basket in 2013
Alan Titchmarsh often shares tips with Britons on how to look after their gardens and plants. With stricter lockdown restrictions having now been put in place in all countries across the UK, more Britons are spending time at home and in their gardens. Even those without gardens are embracing their green thumbs by purchasing indoor plants.
Despite the weather being cold and wet, Britons can still liven up their gardens.
In a video for Waitrose & Partners in 2013, Alan explained how to create a winter hanging basket.
He said: “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that hanging baskets are just for summer.
“The big bedding plant filled ones are but you can make winter hanging baskets too.”
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Alan explained that hanging baskets made of coir are ideal for winter.
He made holes in the bottom of the basket to allow plants like ivy and pansies to peak through.
Alan continued: “Now the great thing about winter baskets is they don’t grow at a rate of knots like summer ones do.
“You can stuff them right from the start and provided they’re hung in a sheltered spot that isn’t windblown the whole time you’ll have a jolly winter.”
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The gardening expert said some of the winter plants that can be included in hanging baskets are winter-flying pansies and ivy.
He also said you can include “little hebes” with variegated leaves and small height flowers on.
Alan recommended using those as a centrepiece for the basket.
For the edge of the basket, Alan said to use heucheras.
The plant with red-brown leaves manages to keep its foliage though the winter.
Some of the plants are prone while other are yellow tinged with pink.
“They’re quite dramatic,” Alan explained.
“Even at this time of year they can go in with ordinary peat-free multi-purpose compost.”
Alan pushed them around the edge of the hanging basket.
He added: “By the time you get to the end of your basket you’ll find you’ve got something outside the house which is a darned sight better-looking than those dead bedding plants sitting there right the way through the year.”
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh will air at 10am today on ITV.
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