Hanging Basket Planting Technique for Stunning Displays: Unveiling the Secret to Exquisite Flower Arrangements
The "thriller, filler, spiller" method is a popular and effective technique for designing visually appealing hanging baskets and container gardens. This approach, which is simple to remember and flexible enough to customize, ensures a balanced and dynamic display from all angles.
At the heart of this method is the **thriller**, a tall, striking plant that serves as the focal point and adds height and drama. Examples of thrillers include small blooming shrubs, ornamental grasses, or architectural plants like Cordyline. In Lisa Fazzani's current hanging basket, she has chosen two thrillers: a Nemesia and a spiky Cordyline.
Surrounding the thriller are the **fillers**, medium-height, bushy plants that provide volume, texture, and color to complement the thriller without overpowering it. Common fillers include Begonia, Coleus, snapdragons, or Spanish lavender. For her current hanging basket, Lisa Fazzani has opted for a mix of flowers, including pale pink dahlias and hot pink dianthus. She alternated the dahlia with the dianthus to break up the color.
The final touch is the **spiller**, trailing plants that cascade over the edges of the container, softening its outline and adding a sense of abundance. Examples are sweet potato vine, Bacopa, or Vinca. While the spillers in Lisa Fazzani's current hanging basket are not specified, a popular choice for spillers is the Grandiflora Snowflake variety of Bacopa, which has pretty white cascading flowers.
Sam Lanckmans, Horticultural Manager at Dobbies' Keston branch, advises using Miracle-Gro Moisture Control compost for hanging baskets to ensure proper drainage and moisture retention.
When choosing plants for the 'thriller, filler, spiller' method, pick colors that suit the container and other flower displays. Lisa Fazzani positions the thrillers centrally and towards the back of the basket, and the spillers at the front and going round towards the back. Fillers are placed around the thrillers to fill in any bare spots.
This method ensures a lush, balanced look from all angles by combining different plant forms and growth habits. It is flexible enough to customize with various plant choices to suit seasons, container types, and personal style. Proper potting mix and drainage, along with seasonal plant swaps, help keep the display fresh and thriving.
In Lisa Fazzani's current home-and-garden project, she has incorporated the 'thriller, filler, spiller' method in her hanging basket. For her thriller plants, she has chosen a Nemesia and a spiky Cordyline. Surrounding these, she used fillers such as pale pink dahlias and hot pink dianthus, carefully alternating the colors to break up the display. To complete the look, she hasn't specified her spiller plants yet but suggests the Grandiflora Snowflake variety of Bacopa as a popular choice.
