One of the easiest and most beautiful ways of displaying a fantastic range of colours during the summer is by using hanging baskets. Whether you have a large or small garden, a patio, a balcony or no garden at all, hanging baskets, chock-full of cascading flowers and foliage will provide months of pleasure.

Baskets can be securely attached to the house by brackets or from the beams of a pergola. Fix them to a wall or suspend from a sturdy branch on a well-sited tree - the choice is almost endless.

Hanging baskets can be purchased at the garden centre and are mostly made from lightweight plastic-coated wire frames. Sizes range from 10" up to 20" in diameter. Heavy-duty metal baskets are also available and many of the larger sizes are often seen overflowing with flowers on commercial properties.

Half baskets and troughs are particularly suited to walls and windowsills, although do bear in mind that when filled with compost and watered, baskets and troughs can be very heavy so secure fitting is essential.

There is a vast range of flowering plants that flourish exceptionally well in hanging baskets. For summer create a glorious display of vibrant multi-coloured baskets or if you prefer, choose a single colour theme to suit.

Hanging baskets are not restricted to only summer either! An eye-catching display of ivy, primulas, winter flowering pansies, bulbs and heather can help to maintain year-round garden colour.

Use quite a dense lining for winter baskets such as an old jumper, cardigan or sheets of newspaper to help protect the roots from freezing.

Of course the garden centre can offer you a fabulous selection of ready-planted hanging baskets but if you prefer to make them yourself they are relatively easy to do.

Rest the basket on a reasonably large pot so that trailing plants hang down as you plant. Line the basket using sphagnum moss (ensure it is bought from a reputable source), or one of the many manufactured liners available. A saucer placed in the bottom of the basket will help it to retain water.

Begin to fill the basket using either a proprietary tub and basket compost that has water-retaining crystals or add your own crystals to a good quality general purpose potting compost. Baskets can dry out very quickly during the summer so it is well worth going this extra mile when planting up.

Mix slow release fertiliser into the compost to ensure an even supply of plant food throughout the season. If using a wire basket with a mix of flowering and foliage plants half fill the basket with compost.

Gently tease the roots of say 3 trailing plants through the sides and then cover with compost gently firming as you fill. Add the flowering plants as you work up the basket. 'Round off' the top of the basket and place a more upright or larger plant in the centre.

Water thoroughly and set the basket out of direct sunlight for approximately one week before placing it in its final position.

Some of the most visually stunning baskets are those that follow a single colour theme such as hot reds. Use red trailing ivy-leaf Geraniums, Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) Verbena and/or Begonias. Trailing foliage plants include Lysimachia (Creeping Jenny), Plectranthus variegata, Nepeta variegata, and Helichrysum, any of which make perfect companion plants.

Or plant your baskets using a single variety such as the free-flowering Surfinia (trailing petunia 'Blue Vein' has a gorgeous vanilla-like scent!), or its close relative trailing Million Bells. Both are available in a myriad of beautiful colours to provide a never-ending cascade of flowers right throughout the summer season.

Don't forget Felicia amelloides (Blue Daisy), the ever popular Lobelia, Bacopa (Snowflake) and of course the fantastic varieties if trailing fuchsias. Many of these plants are now available with 'double' flowers so keep a look out for these at the garden centre.

Baskets are generally made up in April but do not be tempted to hang them in their final position until all risk of frost has passed - towards the end of May.

As with most flowering plants remember to 'dead-head', to snip off the faded blooms to ensure a continuation of flowers right throughout the summer season. A liquid feed once a week will also help to maintain your plants in peak condition.

Should whitefly or blackfly become a problem the garden centre can offer you help, advice and treatments to tackle these pests.

Remember that the secret of successful hanging baskets is watering - a daily job to ensure their best all summer long. However the visual effects (and no doubt the compliments) that they generate undoubtedly make them worth it all!