Here’s a guide for Edinburgh hanging baskets—what to plant, when, and how to keep them lush. You do not need permission to install a hanging basket but you must meet these council guidelines – Pathway to Install Planters and Hanging Baskets (council draft) Commercial suppliers are listed below.
Seasonal Timelines:
- Spring (Apr–May): Prepare baskets; plant frost-hardy trailing plants.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Main display with fuchsias, petunias, lobelia, etc.
- Autumn (Sep–Oct): Replant with hardy plants and spring bulbs.
- Winter (Nov–Feb): Use cyclamen, ivy, pansies, and heather.
Example DIY cost (16″ – £64)
This may be less if the council have spare supplies
Basket + liner £18
Bracket £10
Compost + feed/granules £12
Plants (12 @ £2) £24
Total ≈ £64 (re-usable basket/bracket reduce costs in year 2 to ~£36 for plants/compost only).
Commercial Supplier Costs (16″ – £64)
Hanging basket 16 inch and flowers. You do own watering, replanting and maintenance.£65
Commercial supply & maintenance (16″ – £200 each year)
- Supply, install, weekly watering/feed for the season: commonly £150–£250 per basket (varies with frequency and access).
Suppliers
Here are good Edinburgh-area suppliers/installers who can design, fit (brackets), plant and maintain hanging baskets for shopfronts. :
- Benholm Group (ex-Flowerhire, Central Scotland) – full design → install → maintenance. They specifically note they’re the leading supplier of fully maintained commercial hanging baskets in Central Scotland after acquiring Edinburgh firm Flowerhire. Benholm
- Fleurtations (Plantscapes) – Edinburgh/Lothians – commercial exterior displays, window boxes & hanging baskets, with install/maintenance and seasonal change-outs. fleurtations.co.uk+2fleurtations.co.uk+2
- phs Greenleaf (UK-wide, Edinburgh coverage) – supply, install, self-watering systems, and ongoing maintenance (summer/winter schemes). phsgreenleaf.co.uk+1
- Ambius (UK-wide) – bespoke service from design to installation to maintenance; can add irrigation. ambius.co.uk
- Plantscape (UK-wide municipal/commercial) – supply/rental of baskets with 7-day reservoir watering system; installation available on request. Good for high-street schemes. Plantscape
- JDS Gardening (Edinburgh) – local contractor for installation/maintenance tasks; while not basket-specific, they handle window boxes/planter planting and can fit brackets & do watering rounds under contract. JDS Gardening & Tree Services Edinburgh+1
- Penelope Fleur (Edinburgh) – artificial/faux floral installations (zero-watering option) for shopfronts and signage. penelopefleur.co.uk
Flowers
1) Basket, compost & timing
- Size: 35–40 cm (14–16″) wire or solid basket with a reservoir if possible.
- Liner: coir or moulded fibre; poke side holes for trailers.
- Compost (peat-free): 70% multi-purpose + 20% loam-based (John Innes) + 10% fine grit.
Mix in slow-release fertiliser at label rate + a pinch of water-retaining granules. - Planting: late April–June (after frost); harden plants for a week first.
2) How many plants?
For a 40 cm/ 16″ basket: 1 “thriller” (tall or focal) + 5–7 fillers + 5–7 spillers (10–14 plants total depending on plug size).
3) Pick by sun or shade
Full sun / bright sites (St John’s Road style)
Spillers (trailers):
- Surfinia/Trailing Petunia, Calibrachoa (Million Bells), Bacopa, Ivy-leaved geranium (Pelargonium peltatum), Lobelia (trailing), Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, Lysimachia ‘Aurea’.
Fillers:
- Verbena, upright Pelargonium, Osteospermum, Nemesia, Bidens, Sanvitalia, compact Salvia.
Thrillers (centre):
- Upright Fuchsia, Cordyline (small), Angelonia, dwarf dahlia.
Part shade / shade (north/east walls)
Spillers:
Fillers:
- Begonia ‘Non-stop’ types, Impatiens (New Guinea/Downy-mildew-resistant), Coleus, Heuchera (small pots), Pansy/Viola in cooler spells.
Thrillers:
- Upright Fuchsia, Carex or small fern for texture.
Winter baskets (Oct–Mar)
- Viola/pansy, Cyclamen coum or mini florist cyclamen (sheltered), Skimmia (small), Heuchera, Carex, Ivy, trailing Ajuga, Primula in late winter. Add bulbs (mini daffodils, crocus) under the top 5 cm.
4) Easy “recipes”
Hot & sunny:
- Centre: red Geranium.
- Fillers: Verbena (purple), Bidens (yellow).
- Spillers: Calibrachoa (orange), Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’, trailing Lobelia.
Soft pastels (sun/part sun):
- Centre: Angelonia white.
- Fillers: Nemesia vanilla, pale Petunia.
- Spillers: white Bacopa, Calibrachoa lilac, Lysimachia lime.
Shady show:
- Centre: upright Fuchsia.
- Fillers: Begonia ‘Non-stop’ (pink), Coleus.
- Spillers: trailing Begonia yellow, variegated ivy.
Edible basket (sunny):
- Tumbling cherry tomato, strawberries, trailing thyme/oregano; feed well and water daily.
5) Care (numbers that work)
- Water: in summer, usually daily; in hot/windy spells 2× daily. As a guide a 40 cm basket often takes 3–5 L per watering—slowly, until it just drips.
- Feed: start 3–4 weeks after planting—high-potash liquid (tomato feed) weekly; twice-weekly in peak bloom.
- Deadhead & trim: remove faded blooms; light shear of trailers mid-season to re-flush.
- Wind/swing: add a short safety chain; move to shelter in storms.
- Frost: bring under cover or fleece if a late cold snap threatens.
6) Quick shopping list (one 40 cm/ 16 ” sunny basket)
- 1 × upright Fuchsia or Geranium (centre)
- 3 × Calibrachoa (different colours)
- 2 × Verbena or Nemesia
- 3 × Bacopa/Lobelia (trailing)
- 1 × Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
- Slow-release feed, granules, peat-free compost
Price Guide
Empty hardware
- 14–16″ basket (wire or solid): £10–£20
- Coir/fibre liner: £3–£6
- Wall bracket & fixings: £6–£15
Compost & extras (peat-free)
- Multi-purpose compost (40L): £6–£9 (one bag usually does 1 x 16″)
- Slow-release fertiliser (small tub): £5–£8
- Water-retaining granules (small pack): £3–£5
Plants (spring/summer bedding)
- Trailers/fillers (plugs or 9cm pots): £1.50–£3 each
- A 16″ basket typically uses 10–14 plants → £15–£35
Ready-planted baskets (garden centre)
- 12″: £20–£35
- 14–16″: £35–£60
- Premium/extra-full or winter baskets: £45–£80