Project time: 9 hours Hanging container gardens are an effective and highly visual means of using plants to showcase or improve the look of an arbor, bare wall or view. They can add both dimension and visual height to their environment. Using design software, host Maureen Gilmer demonstrates the proper way to construct and maintain these decorative miniature gardens. Tools:
Standard garden tools
Power drill
Giant wire basket (premossed)
Half baskets (premossed)
Wall fasteners, chain, s-hooks
Sphagnum moss
Potting soil
Driftwood
Drip system (optional)
Salvaged items for cabinet area Getting Started The first thing you should take into consideration when you're planning a hanging garden is the location: Do you have a space that can support such an undertaking? Since these gardens can be very heavy, check out the type of support that will be available -- for instance, in our demonstration, the arbor is very strong and goes all the way into the fascia of the building, which will help it hold the hanging containers safely. Before you get ready to plant, it's important to prepare the sphagnum moss (Sphagnum Cymdiflorium) that you will be using in the containers. The first step is to soak it -- don't neglect this step, as it's more important than you might think. Soak sphagnum moss in warm water for several hours. If the moss is not soaked prior to use, it will crumble to dust when handled. Soaking also allows the moss to begin to develop its darker green color as it becomes saturated.
RESOURCES :
Soil Amendments
Soil amendments
Whitney Farms
Website: www.whitneyfarms.com
Simply Beautiful
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com
Simply Beautiful
Website: www.simplybeautifulgardens.com
Plants from Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com
Garden Maker Software
Garden Maker Software
Email: mo@moplants.com
Website: www.moplants.com/garden_maker_software.html
Vietnamese Decorative Wine Jars
Item #5-6081
Asian Ceramics Inc.
Website: www.asian-ceramics.com
Hanging Sphagnum Moss Basket & Half-Baskets
Item #48MB
48" sphagnum moss basket with heavy-duty 6-strand chain hanger
Item #18MHB
18" sphagnum moss half-basket (wall pocket)
Topiary Art Works and Greenhouses, LLC
Clearwater, KS 67026
Phone: 620/584-2366
Website: www.topiaryartworks.com
Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Portland, OR 97221-3540
Phone: 503-977-7808;
Fax: 503-244-2745
Website: www.terranovanurseries.com
Hanging Plant Drip System Kit
Contact: Roy Curnuck
Water Flute Enterprises
Levittown, NY 11756
Phone: 516/735-2566
Email: waterflute@optonline.net
Website: www.waterflute.com
GUESTS :
Glen Williams
Garden Manager, Fullerton Arboretum
California State University at Fullerton
Email: gwilliams@fullerton.edu
Website: www.arboretum.fullerton.edu
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