Cheer up your garden with a hanging basket and enjoy an edible garden right by the kitchen door.

Hanging baskets are not only for flowers. A basket of herbs is a charming feature to have near a kitchen so the plants are within easy reach when cooking. A traditional wicker basket can accommodate a range of culinary favourites and provides a great 'country kitchen' look.

Tip: As herb baskets will be harvested frequently, hang them at eye level so you can see the plants. Pick the leaves with ease and water daily.

Here's how:
Step 1. Line a wicker basket with some black plastic - available by the roll from hardware stores. Punch several holes through the base of the plastic to provide the plants with essential drainage.

Step 2. Fill the basket with potting mix and add some slow-release fertiliser granules to keep the plants well nourished, plus some water-saving crystals to help retain moisture. This is very important in hot areas because with air circulating around hanging baskets they can dry out quickly, especially on windy days.

Step 3. Arrange the herbs in the basket, placing the larger varieties like lemon balm and mint in the centre, and smaller types, such as oregano and thyme, on the outside so they can cascade over the edge.

Tip: A large basket will be quite heavy when fully planted, so always hang it on a strong chain from a sturdy joist or an exposed beam.

Other hanging garden ideas
Baskets are ideal for small compact plants such as flowering annuals, plants with trailing stems, ferns and succulents. When grouping hanging baskets, stagger the heights to increase their visual impact.

For a more individual look, recycle an old teapot, birdcage, iron kettle or kitchen colander instead of a basket!

Source: bhg.com.au