Mini-Gardens on High / Hanging baskets are worth the time and effort NASSAU Edition

Baskets must be free-draining to prevent root rot, but that same quality means that these mini-gardens in the air dry out quickly. A long-spouted watering can with an upfacing spray head, a rose in garden parlance, is a critical tool. (A few truly lovely copper specimens are offered by upscale catal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNewsday
Main Author By Charles Fenyvesi. Charles Fenyvesi writes for the Washington Post. Irene Virag's column will return next week
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Long Island, N.Y Newsday LLC 27.08.1998
EditionCombined editions
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Summary:Baskets must be free-draining to prevent root rot, but that same quality means that these mini-gardens in the air dry out quickly. A long-spouted watering can with an upfacing spray head, a rose in garden parlance, is a critical tool. (A few truly lovely copper specimens are offered by upscale catalogs, antiques shops and other sources. Or you can use a workaday galvanized metal or the ubiquitous plastic can.) A sunny location may demand watering twice a day during the hottest part of summer. Water early in the morning or after the day has cooled, to reduce evaporation. Screened porches make great spaces for shade-loving plants in baskets, but they have to be watered with care. If the plants are outside, you can use a hose with a nozzle that emits a fine spray. A strong flow of water would dislodge the soil and leave roots bare. If you go away even for a weekend in summer, your plants will still need water. Enterprising gardeners have hooked up their hanging baskets (and other containers) to automatic watering systems, which provide peace of mind during the gardener's absences.