Wicker baskets are perfect for planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. And they make great additions to gardens, patios, pubs and hotels. Here are our top tips for getting the most out of your wicker basket planter.
Wicker baskets make brilliant planters because they are made from natural materials. This means they can move and they can breathe. Wicker baskets are essentially living with your plants. And it’s one of the reasons why they make great planters. They look right at home in the great outdoors.
Unlike plastic pots, wicker baskets are environmentally-friendly and sustainable. They will eventually decompose but not for many, many years.
In this blog, we’ll cover some of the things to look out for when buying wicker baskets for planting. Including selection, wicker skin, the finish, lining, drainage and storage.
Wicker Basket Planters selection
It is crucial that you select the right wicker basket for the job. Not all baskets are created equal and not all wicker has the same depth. When selecting your wicker basket, look for ones where the strands are at least 1.5cm thick. Often baskets sold are much thinner than this but they won’t do the job you need them to do when planting outdoors.
All of the baskets we sell at Motta Living have been thoroughly researched before we stock them. We even put them through their paces in our own gardens so that we can make sure we only stock the best wicker baskets on the market.
Skin-on rattan
A bit like chips, baskets are better with the skin on. Skin-on rattan will help weather-proof your basket and increase its longevity. The rattan skin provides a layer between your basket and the rain, it also helps strengthen the material.
This means your wicker basket will survive the great British weather when left outdoors. If you’re based elsewhere in the world, you can be sure these baskets have been put through their wet-weather paces by many hostelries in the UK.
If you want tips for making your wicker basket looking its best for as long as possible, contact our team for more advice.
Smooth finish
You want your wicker basket to be tightly woven, with smooth rounded edges. Wicker that has bits sticking out is a sign of a lesser quality basket. It can also cause snagging when you are moving the basket around, can catch things and it simply doesn’t look as neat.
This close attention to detail on your basket can make a big difference to how it looks when you’ve got it planted out in your garden. You want your wicker basket planters to look as new for as long as possible. And because each basket is different, you need to know that quality control checks are taking place before your basket is shipped to you.
This is why, at Motta Living, we take great care over checking each basket as it comes into our store. It gives you the confidence to know you’re buying the best quality baskets available.
Basket Lining
It is tempting to line your wicker basket planters with plastic but aside from not being environmentally friendly, it will quickly go brittle. Jute is a better choice as this will allow your plants to breathe and for any water to drain away.
Jute also has the benefit of looking more appealing than plastic. It blends into the basket and is less obvious. All the small details that make a difference with your garden design.
Drainage
While thinking about drainage, fill the bottom of your wicker basket planters with gravel, stones or broken pots. This is the perfect use for those chipped plates you’ve been meaning to clear out in your spring clean. Mix them up in with the gravel. It creates a layer between the soil and the basket, therefore extending the life of the basket.
Rest your basket on feet
Baskets get pretty heavy when filled with soil and plants so resting them on some feet make it easier to move should you need to. We do a great range of baskets on wheels which make it far easier to move. And if you’re wondering where to get your lining, we can sort this out for you. Do ask when placing your order.
![]()
Get The Guide
Get The GuideWe’ve put together our years of experience in caring for wicker baskets into one helpful guide so that you can extend the life of your wicker baskets. Whether you plant them out or use them for indoor storage, keep your wicker looking wicked.