Looking for a way to revive, rejuvenate, and give new life to your tired, worn out hanging baskets and container plants?
As late summer arrives, many hanging baskets and potted plants purchased back in the spring begin to show serious signs of wear and tear. What once was a healthy, thriving plant has become a sad, struggling plant.
The leaves are thinning, and the beautiful blooms that once blanketed its foliage are now few and far between. And watering is nearly impossible too, as the water simply flows right through the roots.
All of the above are classic signs of worn out, root-bound, overgrown hanging basket and container plants. And at this point, no matter what you do, the plant is going to continue to go downhill.
But wait – not all is lost! Before you toss those worn out baskets and planters to the curb, there is a way to still give them a gorgeous second life. And it’s easier than you could ever imagine!
A Simple Solution For Saving Worn Out Hanging Baskets & Container Plants
Although you can always replant baskets and potted plants into larger containers, sometimes it’s simply not feasible or practical.
If a plant is already large, it can be difficult finding containers large enough to work. Even if you do, it can expensive and time consuming to fill with all of that potting soil.
And do you really want to put that much effort into plants that only have a few months of life left before frost sets in?
But there is a simple, low-cost solution to getting more life from your worn out hanging baskets and overgrown container plants. And it’s one we have been using here at the farm for years to add big late season color into the landscape – all for free!
Instead of throwing those worn out baskets to the compost heap, give them new life by re-planting them directly into your flowerbeds and landscape. Not only will the new space and soil rejuvenate your worn out plants, it provides a huge splash of color to perennial bed spaces for the rest of the growing season.
And you will be amazed at how big and beautiful those potted plants can become once again!
The Secret To Transplanting Success
By replanting directly into the ground, worn out root-bound baskets and planters can find the space and nutrients they need to grow strong again.
Begin by digging a hole about 50% larger than the existing root ball of the potted plant. Remove the plant from the original basket, taking care to lightly break apart the root bound edges.
This will help the plant’s roots to quickly search out into the new soil and replenish nutrients. Before planting, soak the roots with a good dose of water to re-hydrate.
When re-planting into the new hole, fill the bottom with compost, and mix equal amounts of soil and compost around the edges. The loose, nutrient-filled soil will give the worn out hanging basket plants an easy path to set new roots.
Finally, finish by applying a healthy dose of liquid fertilizer to the plant. Because it is mature and established, it will quickly soak up the nutrients to come back to life. See : 4 Liquid Organic Fertilizers That Work!
Water daily or even twice daily for the first week, until the roots have had a chance to become re-established. In no time at all, your old hanging basket will bounce back to life in a beautiful display of color.
To keep the annuals flowering big until the end of the season, apply a light granular or liquid fertilizer once a week. Your plants will thank you with rejuvenated blooms! Product Link : Organics Garnular Fertilizer
Here is to getting a second life out of those worn out hanging baskets and planters this summer! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary
As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on Facebook here : OWG Facebook. This article may contain affiliate links.
