How to Use Wicker Baskets to Plant Flowers

Line the inside of your wicker basket with a plastic planter liner. You can find these plastic trays that are typically placed beneath planters at your local garden supply, discount or home improvement store. Alternatively, you can line the wicker basket with a plastic garbage bag. Cut the bag to cover the inside bottom and about 3 inches up the sides of the wicker basket. Glue the garbage bag to the wicker with E-6000 or other strong craft glue. Let the glue dry.

Add a layer of small rocks inside the wicker basket for added moisture retention. You don't need a lot of rock; simply cover the bottom with a single layer.

Add a layer of sphagnum moss to the wicker basket. You can find sphagnum moss in rolls or layers at your local garden supply or craft store. You can cover the rocks and the plastic liner only, or you can bring the moss to the rim of your wicker basket for added decoration. The moss is a buffer between the rocks and the potting soil as well as an added layer of protection for the wicker basket.

Add potting soil to the wicker basket, on top of the moss. Fill the wicker basket about half full of potting soil, depending on the flowers you are planting. Shallow rooted flowers will need more soil initially, as they will not be planted as deeply as flowers with large root balls.

Place the flowers into the soil so that the root ball will fall about 1-inch beneath the rim of your wicker basket. Fill in around the flower with potting soil, up to 1-inch beneath the rim of the planter. This 1-inch space will allow for watering.