Hannah Miller has been a gardening enthusiast for over 12 years and has a level 3 qualification in horticulture. She's constantly growing new plants and frequently writes for us.

How to Grow Aubretia - Sunday Gardener

Aubretia flowers are in shades of light blue, mauve and pink and some varieties have variegated foliage, all are low-growing, small plants. I’ve seen first-hand how trailing verbena will scramble over the ground, so you can plan it next to paths and patios if that’s a look you desire. Creeping jenny produces long stems holding lobe-like gold and green leaves, and as a hardy perennial, it will keep its leaves in all but the harshest of winters.

My experience: I stopped growing busy lizzies for several years due to horrendous downy mildew diseases that destroyed them. However, growers have now produced disease-resistant plants, and I’ve seen first-hand that they perform much better.

15 of the Best Trailing Plants - DIY Gardening

My experience: I’ve seen nasturtiums covering walls, fences and draping over large containers, I think they are a great option to consider. Key points: A perennial that’s often grown as an annual in the UK and cooler parts of the US. Low growing with a rambling habit, bacopa will trail by about 30cm, just enough to cover the sides of pots, troughs and window boxes. Copper and pink leaves adorn the vigorous trailing stems of this underused heuchera/tiarella hybrid – the first known trailing variety . She enjoys gardening as much as she cares about the environment and likes to share her knowledge with others. While usually grown for its foliage and trailing or crawling habit, it does display bright yellow flowers in the summer.Key points: A half-hardy annual that produces a vigorous display of blooms from June until the temperature drops in October.

How to grow aubretia | Hayes Garden World How to grow aubretia | Hayes Garden World

No list of hanging plants would be complete without a mention of trailing petunias which are flamboyant, showy and unmistakable. Propagate by softwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings. Species can be propagated by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in fall or spring Whatever trailing plants you choose, why not make them stand out by choosing a unique and custom made hanging basket?

I’ve seen ivy can grow just about everywhere, along walls, down the side of pots, trailing below hanging baskets and even along the ground. Perfect for baskets where their long trails can reach 50cm, petunias produce masses of bold, bright blooms all through the summer. Dichondra “silver falls” is a herbaceous perennial that I’ve seen others grow as an annual. It’s a perfect trailing plant for hanging baskets and draping over and down walls.

Aubrieta ‘Cascade Purple’ - Rock Cress Plant Profile for Aubrieta ‘Cascade Purple’ - Rock Cress

While busy lizzies will generally grow to a rounded shape, they do spread to around 35cm and like to fill in space, making them perfect for hanging baskets and tubs where their foliage and blooms can gently hang over the edges. Grow in hanging baskets, containers and window boxes where the trails will spill over the edges by up to 40cm. My experience: I’ve grown both the taller and carpet varieties of Phlox, I’ve found both are easy to maintain and propagate. Make sure you buy the low-growing carpet variety as other Phlox grow up to 1 metre tall.Key points: Nasturtiums are annuals and can be grown very easily from seeds sowed in the same spot you wish to grow them. All parts of the nasturtium plant can be eaten, and they make an excellent addition to salads. Growing tip: Water regularly but don’t allow the feet to sit in waterlogged soil. Some varieties will benefit from regular deadheading. This less well-known annual produces dozens and sometimes hundreds of 2-3cm trumpet-like blooms that look almost identical to those on petunias.