Hanging baskets are an excellent way to dress up a patio in a pinch, hang them up and you’re done; if you want to keep them looking brand new all summer, you have a little light maintenance ahead of you. If you keep up on these three simple steps, you should have beautiful baskets all summer long.

Water, water, water.

Hanging baskets dry out very quickly during hot summer months when rain is limited; keeping up with keeping them hydrated is the most important step to keeping your basket alive! On a hot day, your basket may need watered two or even three times in a day. Make sure each time you water you water enough for it to drain through drainage holes in the basket.

Feed them often!

Because hanging baskets have to be watered so frequently, much of the nutrients in the soil get flushed out leading to tiny foliage and blossoms. Try a time release fertilizer, that is added to the soil which should last a couple of months, or a liquid fast acting fertilizer which is added bi-weekly during the growing season.

Dead head for long lasting color!

Remove all flowers on the plant after they have withered. This will promote new flower growth on the plant so you can enjoy a blossoming basket all summer!