Home is where the hanging basket is

Home is where the hanging basket is

To me, nothing makes a house seem more like a home than a hanging basket floating
welcomingly at the entrance – especially if it’s filled with vintage flowers like the sweet william. In
fact, this ornamental plant is perfect for hanging - especially with pansies and lobelia around the
outside - as it tends to sit neatly in a little mound, rather than growing free-form across the
basket.

If you’ve already cottoned on to the hanging basket trend and have a couple at your place, you may
have noticed they’re due for a refresh. Sweet william is the perfect replacement plant, with the
biennial giving you bright, colourful flowers from spring until autumn.

But it’s not all about hanging baskets. Sweet william also does nicely in pots, is great for borders
and ground cover, and makes pretty cut flowers (just asked Kate Middelton who used it in her
bridal bouquet when she married…uhem…sweet William. And don’t even ask how I know that).

Wherever you decide to plant, make sure it’s a sunny spot and that the soil is rich and well-drained.
Simply dig a little hole, insert your seedling and space each plant about 20cm apart. That really is
most of the hard work done.

The thing I like about sweet william is it may look delicate, but when it comes to growing its pretty
hardy and simply gets on with the job. It will even tolerate cool mornings and over-head watering,
and will thrive happily without any deadheading.

In no time your plants will reach a delicate height of 25cm – just about perfect for your hanging
basket.

To get your hands on our tall mixed sweet william seedings, pop into your local Bunnings, The
Warehouse or supermarket. Or head to our online store at www.awapuni.co.nz and have your
seedlings delivered direct to your door.

Tod Palenski
Awapuni Nurseries
www.awapuni.co.nz

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