Help a novice create a gorgeous hanging basket

[Confitdecanard]

I posted a while back about shrubs for my empty garden and got such good advice I thought I'd ask about hanging baskets as well.

I want to make a pretty hanging basket using plants not seeds but have no idea where to start. My questions are:
What sort of liner is best?
Should I plant in the side holes or just in the top?
What should I plant and where?
Which plants offer the best mix of beautiful and fool proof?
Do you have any tips for maintenance? Can I hang it outside in the midlands straight away or should I keep it in for a bit longer?

Please share your knowledge!

Have you got the basket yet? If so, try to get bigger, deeper baskets.

The trick is not to let them dry out - use water saving gel or special basket compost.

Lobelia, petunia, viola, pansy and geranium/pelargonium all do well in baskets.

I usually mix in long lasting plant feed - but my neighbour, who feeds weekly with pound shop liquid plant food, has better baskets!

I would highly recommend million bells - like petunias but small and dainty flowers and one plant will fill most of a hanging basket and trail off it nicely.

I love gardening but never do handing baskets. A vigorous basket will need watering daily, twice a day when it's really hot

Trailing nasturtiums are pretty in a hanging basket, very colourful

Nasturtium leaves are lovely in salads, very peppery flavour.

Thanks everyone. I have got some water retaining gel and am prepared for lots of watering. I have lobelia, geranium and petunia plus some other things that looked pretty in the hanging basket plants section of the garden centre (diascia, fuschia and bacopa). I really like the sound of million bells but couldn't see any. I will keep my eye out though because baskets were on BOGOF so I have a second to fill!

Another useful tip is to put a plant saucer in the bottom of the basket, as that creates a little reservoir and stops it drying out so quickly. To make watering easier, you can put a small empty flowerpot at the centre of the basket, with its rim level with the compost. If you water into that, the water will get right down to the roots.