Lastly, remember that citrus does not ripen like a tomato.  Most potted trees require 12 months to produce mature fruit.  The best way to test for doneness is to do a taste test.  Now how bad can that be????

You will find many hanging baskets made of wire & moss but at Arizona Pottery we offer a clay bowl made of real terracotta clay.  Each piece is hand carved for decoration & unique designs.  We include a steel hanging wire with a swivel head hook for easy installment.  If you are interested just click here to see the hanging pot we sell.  2 styles to choose from.

What we would like to share here are a few tips on how to plant into these baskets:

To get a full, ball effect, choose compact, bushy varieties of annuals.  When mixing a variety of plants, the most important quality of a hanging bouquet is it's trailiing habit, covering the sides of the container with blooms or green foliage.  Plant taller varieties in the center and those with trailing or vining habits around the edges.

Enhance the spherical shape by pinching off the main shoots of the plants when they reach the desired height.  This simple chore encourages growth of side shoots.  Rotate the hanging container regularly.  Once a week is best for rotation so that all flowers receive equal exposure to sunlight.  Be vigilant about deadheading spent blooms and pinching leggy plants.  Check moisture often especially on hot days.

It's very common for most gardeners to grab a few stones, pieces of broken clay pottery or pot filler,to cover the drain hole in the bottom of most garden planters.  If you choose to go this route we suggest adding a thin layer of pebble gravel.  Any of these products will help the soil drain but still keep it from running out the bottom of the pot and getting your deck or patio surface dirty.  You also don't want any standing water in the bottom of your garden pots or the roots of your plants will rot.  Gravel can also be used to help with the draining of the soil.  Just add some to the soil mix, toss it gently and it helps the soil drain better.  We love to see cacti, succulents and bulbs grown in gravel & water only.  It creates a unique look.

Try top-dressing your planters with colorful gravel.  It not only is attractive but it really keeps the potting soil from drying out as fast.  Gravel as a pot topper also helps to keep water and soil from splashing up on the plants.

You can find colorful gravels that look decorative and beautiful at most garden center or aquarium outlets.  Don't leave your potted plants looking good when they can look GREAT!!!