Gardening with Trailing Flower Plants: Baskets, Vines, and Groundcovers

Overview

Trailing flowers add charm to hanging baskets on porches, eaves, or shepherd's hooks. As groundcovers, they provide instant color and fill gaps between slower-growing plants. Larger trailing vines like wisteria, clematis, or morning glory add vertical height. Success lies in proper care matched to each plant's needs.

Step 1: Match Plants to Light Conditions

For baskets under eaves or on porches (shaded), choose shade-loving plants like ferns or trailing begonias. For baskets on shepherd's hooks or pergolas (full sun), select sun-loving varieties.

Step 2: Monitor Basket Moisture

Check hanging baskets frequently; water with a garden hose when soil is no longer damp to the touch.

Step 3: Provide Adequate Support

Use supports strong enough for the mature plant. Morning glory thrives on a shepherd's hook or willow trellis. Heavy woody vines like climbing roses or wisteria need a stone or timber pergola/arch anchored in the ground.

Step 4: Contain Invasive Spread

Place aggressive trailers like wisteria on supports you can mow around to control suckers.

Step 5: Prune Woody Vines in Spring

Cut back heavy, woody trailing vines with pruning shears in spring to prevent them from overwhelming their supports.

Step 6: Mulch Groundcover Trailers

Mulch around trailing plants used as groundcover to suppress weeds and retain root moisture.

Step 7: Fertilize for Blooms

Apply a phosphorus-rich fertilizer (10-20-10) in spring to encourage more flowers.