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Iron Gardens: Tips & Instructions
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Moss baskets look beautiful in outdoor settings! And an added plus: the moss itself itself helps retard fungus and plant disease.
When you hang a moss basket, make sure you provide it with adequate support. Fully planted, recently watered baskets can weigh from 20 to 60 pounds. Use a support that can handle the weight of the basket.
Iron Gardens offers ain different sizes, clearance lengths and duty strengths. Check any NON-Iron Garden brand hangers often, as water and fertilizer can weaken poorly made hangers over time. Consider suspending your basket from something with a strong structural framework - tree limbs, overhanging roof beams. arbor and gazebo beams are excellent possibilities.
If your basket is in a location that receives sunlight from one side only, include an Iron Gardenand rotate the plant on a regular basis. For help setting up a suitable suspension system, go to our basket and hanger sections for suggestions.
Our many moss basket styles and shapes provide endless possibilities for your enjoyment. Consider the following Iron Garden options when working with moss plantings:
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(17” - 24” sizes available)
(6” – 12” sizes available)
(14” – 20” heights)
(40” & 42” tall)
Decorative Iron Garden Pieces to consider also:
Tea Cup Moss Baskets
Wall Urns
Wall Moss Baskets
Deluxe Window Box
Crown Hanging Planter
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| Step One - Soak the moss overnight in very warm water.
Step Two - Squeeze as much water out of the moss as possible. Pack the moss tightly from the inside of the basket. Make moss lining one inch thick, extending up four inches.
Step Three - Add soil mixture to basket, going up as far as the top of this first layer of moss.
Step Four - Water plants well before planting. Pinch off flowers on new transplants to promote sturdy growth.
Step Five - Fill the lowest tier with flowers or foliage plants and then add enough potting soil mix to cover the roots of plants completely. Pack the soil down gently.
Step Six - Continue to fill and plant the basket in 4-to 6-inch layers. Plant the last group on top.
Step Seven - Hang the basket and water gently.
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Good maintenance can not only prolong the life of your basket but can also help the plants remain healthy. Remember to wear gloves when handling mosses, plants and soils.
Watering
Watering is extremely important. Your basket may dry out quickly, even daily during the hottest weather.
Spagnum moss will retain the moisture longer than liners such as coconut fiber, sheet moss, green moss, or man-made products. Many of our customers are having success with Kenaf-Liners which are superior to coco fiber liners because they are easy to use, retain water better and produce superior flower color. Kenaf-Liners can be found at www.scenichome.com
Your plants will not do well unless the soil and moss remain moist. Keep the moss moist by watering the sides of the basket. It may be best to use a garden hose or spray bottle by spraying a fine mist around all sides to dampen the moss and the soil. When it is too cold to water outdoors, put the hanging basket in a sink and use the sink sprayer hose to wet the sides of the basket. You might even want to put it in your shower. If the basket resides in your house, let it drain in the sink or a tub before rehanging it.
Fertilizing
Bi-weekly applications of liquid fertilizer helps to maintain vigorous, floriferous hanging baskets. Fertilize weekly with liquid fertilizers such as Schultz, Miracle-Gro or Peters or a granular slow-release fertilizer such as Dynomite Plant Food 13-13-13 or Osmocote 14-14-14.
Trimming
Trim wilting leaves and dying flowers every two or three weeks. Some plants, such as verbena or lantana require little or no trimming. Begonias and impatiens are usually trimmed to form "balls of color".
Pest Problems
The most common pests in hanging baskets are spider mites and mealy bugs. Use commercial pesticides that fit the plant variety and basket location.
End of the Season
When you notice the flowers in your basket deteriorating, it may be time to replant. Should you choose to save the basket for the next year, you can re-use the basket, however it is suggested that you remake the basket with new moss and potting soil.
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Sphere Style & City Basket Programs
Many landscape architects are now designing moss baskets in the form of a sphere. These popularly-designed Iron Garden hanging baskets can be seen in many main streets throughout the United States and Canada. Most are planted with impatiens or begonias. When planting a hanging basket to look like a colorful sphere, make sure that the basket contains more than one color. |
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Choosing the plants for your moss basket is a function of your growing season and the effect you want to create. Annuals or perennials mixed with complementary foliage can complement the existing features in your landscape.
It is important to keep in mind the following points when selecting plants for your hanging basket:
- Will the basket be in the shade, broken sunlight, or direct sunlight?
- Do you want a full basket immediately or are you willing to wait for the plants to grow?
- Does the plant have a cascading or vining effect?
- What time of year are you planting? Winter annuals will not do well in the heat of the summer.
If your basket is going to grow outdoors and receive full sun all day, it is best to select plants which love direct sunlight such as: petunias, salvia, geraniums, etc. If your basket will be growing in full shade, choose ivy, fern, begonias or impatiens. Partial light conditions, such as morning shade with afternoon sun or filtered light, is normally best.
Warm Weather Plants: Begonia (wax and tuberous), Geranium, Herbs, Marigold, Petunia, Verbena and Vinca minor and Vica major.
Cold Weather Plants: Pansy, Petunia, Poinsetta, Primrose, Sweet Alyssum, and Sweet William (Dianthus)
Vines: Bougainvilla, Climbing Rose, English Ivy, Ivy Geraniums, Mandevilla, Strawberry
Tropical Effect: Boston Fern, Caladium (bicolor), Chenille, Spider Plant
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- Hanging baskets are viewed from below so be sure to use the sides and bottom of your basket rather than placing everything in the top.
- Mix your colors for balance. For example, don't use all the white plants on one side. Remember that you are making a three dimensional arrangement that will be viewed from all sides.
- Ivy foliage helps to add balance and highlight the brighter flowers. Think of smell when you plant your basket. Quite often we hang moss baskets on the front porch. What could be nicer than the lovely scent of sweet alyssum or vanilla scented heliotrope to greet our guests?
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"We created a grand entrance into our garden with your Gothic arbor. Thank you so much for adding the little gate design we faxed to you. The gate is exactly as we imagined. You old world craftsmanship is a rare find."
Mike
Colorado
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