How to Create Sustainable Hanging Baskets with 100% Pure Wool Liners
When it comes to sustainable gardening, the small choices we make can have a big impact. Whether you're adding a splash of colour to your front porch or looking to make the most of vertical growing space, hanging baskets are a brilliant way to showcase your plants. But did you know that what you line your baskets with can make a big difference too?
At Hortiwool, we’re passionate about using natural materials to promote healthier plants and a healthier planet. Our 100% pure wool hanging basket liners are a sustainable alternative to synthetic options.
In this blog, we’ll guide you through how to assemble a beautiful, sustainable hanging basket using our wool liners, while exploring the benefits of choosing natural materials over plastic-based alternatives.
Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling a Sustainable Hanging Basket
1. Choose your basket
Start with a wire-framed hanging basket. These are widely available in garden centres and online, and they allow for excellent drainage and airflow. If you're reusing an old basket, give it a clean to remove any old soil or plant debris.
2. Prepare your Hortiwool hanging basket liner
Our hanging basket liners are made from 100% pure wool, a completely natural by-product from British sheep. Simply place the liner inside your wire basket, moulding it to fit. The flexibility of wool makes it easy to shape without tearing or breaking, unlike synthetic liners.
3. Fill with peat-free compost
Sustainability doesn’t stop at the liner. Choose a high-quality peat-free compost to further reduce your environmental impact. Fill the basket roughly three-quarters full, gently firming it down.
4. Add your plants
Position your plants, starting with trailing varieties around the edge and upright growers in the centre. Popular choices include trailing Lobelia, Petunias, Fuchsias and Ivies. Make sure you leave enough space between plants for growth.
5. Top up with compost and water well
Once your plants are in place, fill in any gaps with compost, firming gently. Water the basket thoroughly and the wool liner will help retain moisture while allowing excess water to drain away, keeping roots happy.
6. Hang and enjoy!
Place your completed basket in a suitable spot – sunny or partially shaded depending on your plant selection and admire your handiwork. Water regularly and feed every couple of weeks for best results.
Why Choose 100% Pure Wool Liners?
1. A natural boost for your plants
Wool is breathable, biodegradable and naturally rich in nutrients like nitrogen, which can slowly release into the soil as the liner breaks down over time. Unlike synthetic liners, wool supports healthy root development and better moisture retention without waterlogging.
2. Sustainability at its core
Wool is a renewable resource that requires minimal processing. Hortiwool’s liners are made from British wool, a by-product of sheep farming that would otherwise go to waste. By choosing hanging basket liners made from 100% pure wool, you're helping to reduce reliance on synthetic fibres.
3. A lower carbon footprint
Producing synthetic liners involves petrochemicals and high energy consumption, whereas wool is shorn annually and biodegrades naturally. When your liner reaches the end of its life, you can compost it, returning nutrients to the earth.
4. Durable and versatile
Wool may be soft to the touch, but it’s impressively tough. Hortiwool’s liners can last through a full growing season, and because of their flexibility, they’re easy to use in a variety of basket shapes and sizes.
Small Changes, Big Difference
Using natural materials like wool instead of synthetics in your garden isn’t just better for the environment – it’s better for your plants too. By swapping out your traditional liner for a 100% pure wool one from Hortiwool, you’re making a small, simple change that supports both plant health and sustainability.