Do you have tough soil that makes gardening at your place more stressful than satisfying?
Or are you keen to introduce some Provence-inspired sophistication to your deck, patio or courtyard? Then look no further than hanging baskets for colour, pizzazz, and simple elegance.

Not only do hanging baskets look good, they soften the edges of verandas, doors, walls and pergolas.

What's more, they're pretty simple to create. All you need to buy is a basket, plastic saucer and some sphagnum moss or coconut fibre from your local garden centre. Many baskets come with coconut fibre already inside.

When searching for the perfect basket, look for one that's made of wire and is at least 350mm in diameter. Bigger is definitely better in this case and a wire basket means you can poke flowers through the holes.

If you're using a round-bottomed basket, place the basket on top of a bucket for easy handling when preparing and planting.

Whether you use coconut fibre or sphagnum moss will depend on the type of basket you have and the look you're going for. If the wire on your basket is widely spaced you'll need to use coconut fibre as the moss will fall through the gaps. (We used coconut fibre in the photos).

Before you begin planting, it's a good idea to soak the sphagnum moss in a bucket of water. It's a natural sponge, which means it will soak up water and provide the plants with moisture, not to mention stop the soil falling out!

Place the damp moss in a thin layer along the bottom of the basket and up the sides. Alternatively, if you're using a coconut fibre, simply place it inside the wire of the basket. Next sit the plastic saucer on top of the moss or fibre. If you're using moss, now add another layer up the sides of the basket to the top.

Now pour in potting mix until it reaches the top of the basket. A top-quality potting mix with a slow release fertiliser is best. This will feed your plants for up to four months; until you re-do the baskets for winter.

Now the fun part - what to plant. If it's vibrant flowers you're after, look no further than our Hanging Basket Mix.

It's mix of flowers that work great together and perform well in a hanging basket situation. Varieties will change regularly to suit the seasons, ensuring many interesting combinations.

If you like your hanging baskets practical as well as pretty, try planting some herbs like parsley or basil in the middle.

Getting hold of the Mix or herb seedlings is easy - you can pick them up at supermarkets, The Warehouse, Kmart or Bunnings stores.

Better still, head to our online shop and get the seedlings delivered straight to your door. Buy six or more items and get free delivery to a non-rural address or pay just $4 for delivery to a rural address.

But don't forget, it's best to get planting now - plants won't grow much in winter which means they won't initiate flower buds. And remember to water regularly, and 'dead head' your flowers for a long flowering season.

Happy hanging.