Keep Those Hanging Baskets Happy All Summer Long 🌸🧺

You brought home a beautiful hanging basket. It’s bursting with blooms and making your porch look straight out of a magazine. Fast forward to mid-July and… womp womp—it’s looking more “crispy critter” than container garden. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Here at Lakeview,we grow thousands of hanging baskets and we’ve got the insider tips to keep your baskets thriving through the dog days of summer. The secret? It’s all about the right water, food, and a little pest patrol.

💧 Daily Watering is Non-Negotiable

Hanging baskets dry out faster than you can say “heat wave.” They’re exposed to sun and wind on all sides and have limited soil to hold moisture. That means they need water every single day—sometimes even twice a day when it’s really hot.

Water thoroughly until it flows out the bottom of the pot. If the soil ever dries out completely, dunk the whole basket in a bucket or kiddie pool until it stops bubbling. That’s your plant letting you know it’s rehydrated!

🌱 Feed Me, Seymour!

Even the best potting mix runs out of nutrients fast, especially when you’re watering daily. That’s why we recommend a monthly application of a slow-release fertilizer like Jack’s Classic Coat—our Lakeview secret sauce!

For a little extra bloom power, supplement with a water-soluble fertilizer every 2–3 weeks. We use Jack’s Blossom Booster here at the garden center. Your petunias, calibrachoa, and geraniums will thank you with nonstop flowers.

🐛 Beware the Budworm!

If your petunias suddenly stop blooming or the buds look chewed before they open, you might have petunia budworms—tiny caterpillars with big appetites. They are the worst! These pests are sneaky, but we’ve got your back.

Look closely for tiny green worms or black droppings. Bonide’s organic insect control options, like Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew, are safe and effective. A regular check under the leaves goes a long way toward keeping your basket bloom-ready.

✂️ Deadheading and Trimming

Don’t be afraid to give your baskets a haircut! If they start looking leggy or tired, a light trim will encourage new growth and fuller blooms. Snip off spent flowers and yellowing leaves weekly to keep things looking fresh.

Not sure how to deadhead? Stop in and ask for a live demo – not even kidding, we prune and deadhead weekly so there’s always going to be a demo going on!

Lakeview’s Hanging Basket Checklist:

• ✅ Water daily—thoroughly, not just a splash 
• ✅ Apply slow-release fertilizer monthly (we ❤️ Jack’s Classic Coat) 
• ✅ Watch for budworms—treat early with Bonide organics 
• ✅ Deadhead and trim regularly 
• ✅ Show them off and make your neighbors jealous 

With a little care and a few tricks of the trade, your baskets can stay gorgeous all season long. And if you’re not sure what your basket needs, stop by—we’ll take a peek and get it back on track!