Oakland Gardens - Baskets And Liners

This is a view of my back garden in the summer of 2013 taken from in front of the patio door from the kitchen, when we had finally removed the two swings that my girls when younger had used and I had installed textured paving slabs for the BBQ unit to stand upon, in the shade of the apple trees. 

A view of looking back at my wife showing the opposite fence to my neighbours property. 

Looking into Hanging Baskets all came about as I was sent an email about cheap strawberries and I have no where in the back garden to put them. So I thought I have all those Hanging Brackets around the patio, so I went to Oakland Gardens site to look into getting some baskets and Liners. 

Oakland Gardens sell 5 products in the Basket And Liners category shown above 

Oakland Gardens sent me the six 12" traditional wire hanging baskets - Heavy-Duty Weather-Resistant Steel baskets with six Coco Hanging Baskets Liners - Thick Coir / Coconut Fibre Liners for Hanging Baskets.

Lee Ward of Oakland Gardens also included two of the 12" Easy Fill Hanging Baskets for me to look and play with, and I am so glad that he did, its been a real eye opener for me. 

The Default web page when clicking on Baskets and Liners as for a Quantoty if 4 

I suggested to Lee that the product landing page should not be for a quantity of 4 as my brain just processed "They are bloody expensive" and discounted them as a option, because I didn't initially process the quantity and do the maths to work out the cost per unit. See Costs later in this article   

I noticed this typo when looking at the cost and how it changes with quantity. I let Lee know and he corrected it straight away, feedback in action. 

12" Easy Fill Hanging Basket 

The 12" Easy Fill Hanging Basket is designed for fuss-free planting and vibrant displays. The modular snap-in mesh panels allow front loading of plants, protecting roots from damage. An integrated water reservoir captures excess moisture, reducing watering frequency and promoting healthier growth. Perfect for patios, walls, balconies or gardens needing decorative vertical planting.

I like the way the slots to fix the bar at the end of each chain (a bit like the bar on a fob watch chain are exactly at 120 degrees around the rim of the basket and one knows the basket has to hang level. 

The Snap-in mesh panels are easy to get in place, even for me with my arthritic  hands.

There are four little feet or bearing pads to raise to pot up just enough to let any excess water drain away from under if you use it as a pot on a level surface. 

O like the strengthening webs in between the outer rim of the turn down and the main pot and the additional stiffener along the chain slots. To me as an ex R&D Designer and Structural Engineer tells me this has been developed by someone that knows his stuff.  

Features & Benefits:

• Snap-in mesh panels for easy front planting without disrupting roots

• Internal reservoir retains water, extending watering intervals

• Durable, weather-resistant construction built to last multiple seasons

• Modular design allows panels to be removed or replaced for maintenance

• Supplied with hanging hardware for immediate setup

Specifications:

• Basket diameter: 30.5 cm (12")

• Depth / height: approximately 23 cm

• Water reservoir section: built-in base chamber

• Made from 100% recycled plastic and are UV protected.

Why This Basket Works:

This 12" Easy Fill Hanging Basket combines convenience and performance. Its easy-access panels simplify planting, while the reservoir helps maintain consistent moisture. With rugged construction and built-in mounting hardware, it’s an elegant, durable solution for decorative hanging displays.

It can however equally be used as a floor/ surface mounted pot as the bottom is flat and there are even four little feet/ bearers to raise to pot enough to let any excess water drain away from under the pot. 

Costs from Oakland Gardens 

The cost per unit alters against the number you are going to purchase, on the basis that the more you buy the cheaper they get. Don't worry I have done the maths for you. 

 1 number £8.85 each 
 2 number £6.48 each 

 3 number £6.32 each 

 4 number £5.49 each 

 5 number £5.49 each 

 6 number £5.49 each

 8 number £4.99 each

10 number £4.90 each

Water reservoir section: built-in base chamber

The raised dimple in the middle of the pot with a drainage hole provides the ability for the pot to store water and that equates to approximately 500ml. However what one will actually be filling is the void air space in the material you fill the pot or basket with. 

There is no guidance but to me this screams to be filled with pea shingle of some kind to increase the air void area of the built in chamber with perhaps the used of some capillary matting wicks from the chamber up the pot between the planting windows, I would also cut the matting to separate the filling compost from the water reservoir chamber, to make it easy to clean out and refresh the compost annually. 

 

UPDATE 20/06/2026 

Having now since spoke to Christopher  on the phone and communicated via email the sage has said "There is no need to complicate things.. The water reservoir filled with the same compost when saturated provides a similar volume of water.  The compost itself becomes the perfect wick."

Typical me over complicating things, the KISS approach is often best Keep It Simple Stupid   

I could not find anything about how much material is required to fill the hanging basket and asked Lee of Oakland Gardens and he estimated It's approx. 10 Litre capacity and Plantopia don't tell you to put shingle in the reservoir chamber but he thinks, it would be a very good idea.

Fitting The Chains 

Could not be simpler, fundamentally it's bast on the T-Bar: The defining feature of an Albert chain. This metal crossbar slips horizontally through a waistcoat or vest buttonhole (typically the third or fourth button up) to securely anchor the chain. 

In this case it slips on the slot created for it on the top of the rim to the basket, Classic Victorian design principal that has been working for at least 125 to 189 years.

Hanging The Basket 

With the holes for the chains spaced where they should be the hanging basket has no option but to be level when hung. 

When filled with flowers, you don't get to see the clever engineering bit underneath, just like so much of my work as a structural engineer back in the day. 

I have been mugged by my sister who suggested that a nice kind brother would donate the two 12" Easy Fill Hanging Basket to his loving and caring sister, as they would look so nice on the two empty hanging brackets at the back if her house!

Once I have the new fencing panels fitted, hopefully in the next couple months. As there are hanging brackets in 3 posts either side if the garden, I will buy an additional 6 number 12" Easy Fill Hanging Baskets, and may well replace the 6 around the patio area so they all match.    

So Who Are Plantopia ?

 

According to the bottom of the 12" Easy Fill Hanging Basket they are the designers and manufacturers. So I googled them and read their web site.  

Plantopia is a family company, founded by Chris Haley, a third generation nurseryman and Kim Haley. 

In this photo from their web site they look like the Gardening equivalent to David Gilmour and Polly Samson. You might have to be of a certain age to get the reference. 

Chris combining his knowledge of horticulture and engineering has designed a range of innovative products for the horticultural industry which are dedicated to improving plant growth quality and increasing efficiency for the professional grower.

All I have to say is well done Chris a well designed product there, I'm impressed. Their web site is well worth a visit and a surf lots to see.