What can I plant in hanging baskets that will provide year round colour? It's difficult to get them up and down for replanting let alone dead heading etc. They add tremendously to a very bland front of a rental so I would love some ideas. Thanks

Hi Kim, what you plant will depend upon whether the area is north, south, east or west facing, and whether there are winds or is it hot and sunny so the baskets dry out quickly. It is difficult to get year round colour without replanting seasonally, for example petunias in summer and violas and pansies in winter. Consider keeping a base plant such as variegated ivy in the basket and changing with seasonal colour, hopefully you would only need to do this in spring and autumn. Succulents are hardy and require little maintenance, Burros Tail is hardy and trails over the side. Chain cacti, they don't flower for long, but the plants are happy in hanging baskets. Ivy geraniums flower for long periods in summer and autumn and are low maintenance plants, hardy variegated spider plant or Dichondra Silver Falls with its silver grey trailing foliage look good in hanging baskets. Ferns are always good, the Hen & Chicken fern is super hardy or the Boston fern, but only if it is a sheltered spot with no wind. Have a look around your local garden centre, consider small hardy trailing shrubby plants, they will survive as long as the hanging basket is big enough. Water regularly, top up the potting mix seasonally with an all purpose potting mix, add Saturaid to the basket for extra water retention and a controlled release fertiliser in spring which feeds for up to 6 months.