Was thinking of making my own hanging baskets this year to save money, I'm going to use the wicker baskets that have a plastic lining is it just a case of adding the compost or do I need to do anything else, like line the basket with that mosses felt stuff?? HELP!! Lol :-) :-) :-D

I usually use those and just fill with compost and stick in plants.  Usually have good displays but I do wonder if adding moss might help baskets to retain mositure?  Probably doesn't make any difference if you've plastic liners as the water won't escape anyway.

Not thw wicke rones, but I bought some hanging basket 'kits' in B&Q and they were just under £5 each. They had the basket, chain to hang them, wall fixing, liner and compost, so all I needed to buy were the plants. It worked out a lot cheaper doing it that way.

Put holes in the liner to allow excess water to run through :-)

Ditto i do about 4 I have the wire baskets and I buy a liner (about £2) stuff in some compost and a scoop of the water retaining crystals. A few geraniums, lobelia and a begonia and bobs you uncle, for a laugh I do one with lettece and hanging small toms outside the kitchen and basil, fresh salad outside your door, you can also get slow release food as well from the garden centre, add water and stand back....

Hi Depends on how good you want them to be!

For the best baskets (IMO) buy wire ones, fill with moss (which does retain moisture and looks so much nicer than the plastic/wicker/liner ones, then i use black bin liners, cut a circle out size of the basket so the plastic is just popping over the top, make a few slits in it before popping it in all over.
Add half a handful of grit or gravel (for drainage) then a bit of compost, start by putting your trailing plants around the bottom and edges, for this i use trailing lobelia , trailing geraniums ,alysum etc... then put a bit more compost in and add your main plants, I sometimes use two large geraniums in the centre then pack in the rest like bizzie lizzies, nasturtiums, pansies, lobelia, ivy, for a really good basket squeeze in as much as you can and just wait till middle of summer, will be superb.

Totally soak the basket before putting it up, then every day afterwards, i hose mine and feed once a week.

water retaining gel is great but can be expensive.  I love hanging baskets but hate dead heading, so that puts pay to petunias etc.  This year I've gone for geramiums (upright & trailing) they are more tolerant to the dry conditions you get in hanging baskets.  Think the nasturtium idea is a fab one, will remember that for next year - using them on my very poor soiled bank to add colour & as weed suppressant whilst my other plants are still growing.

Good luck & don't forget to water them ;-)  Someone did recommend tipping a tray of ice cubes in each morning but I tried that a couple of years ago (when it was actually hot) & there's not enough water still so I tend to use my 2l coke bottles when I'm rinsing them for recycling.

we have quite a selection of hangers,but some of the best plants I have are the freebies from Daily Mail,when they have have them,so far this year,I have two wisterias,(not hangers,I know)forty eight pansies,forty two petunias,and twenty eight hanging sweet peas,my hangers are looking really full,and so far,have only had to pay postage on them,the plants are well worth looking out for in Daily Mail,
Wendy

I bought hanging baskets-full with flowers from a car boot-£5 per basket.

We have Chelford Market here in Cheshire-Tues/Wed- and they have a flower auction-hanging basket with flowers 6 for £25 a real bargain-lasted all summer.

Its really to do with the look more than anything else. Moss undoubtedly looks better but it is a hassle so we never bother, the plastic is fine. The secret seems to be to cram in as many plants as possible (according to my mum :-) ), more than you would think the basket would take and water regularly for the best display. Once the plants are grown you wont see the liner anyway.