Window Box Ideas

Are you running out of room in your garden? Feeling boxed in? That's terrific! A box can be quite liberating, particularly if it's a box full of flowers under your window. A form of container gardening, window boxes enable gardeners to bring bursts of color right up close to the house. Window boxes also provide gardeners with limited space an opportunity to expand their gardens. They can take your garden quite literally to another level.

Types of window boxes
Window boxes come in a wide range of styles and materials, including wooden, plastic, metal, fiberglass and terra cotta. Each has pros and cons that should be carefully considered before selecting them. Many come with suitable hardware to secure them to the side of the house. Building your own window boxes can also be a fun and rewarding weekend project. Window boxes look best when they are at least as long the window is wide, or even a few inches longer. Also try to choose a style that compliments the architecture of your home.

For window boxes constructed from wood or other materials susceptible to weathering and decay, a liner helps them to last longer. Investing in a liner or other container to slip into the window box also facilitates planting, especially for hard-to-reach boxes. Simply place the plants and soil in the liner, then drop the whole thing into the outside box. When it comes time to clean it out in the winter, just lift out the liner and you're done.

Planting a window box
Planting a window box is much like planting any other container. You must consider the hours of sunlight it will receive and choose plants accordingly. Ensure it has proper drainage so that water will not collect on the bottom and rot the plants' roots. Use a bagged soil-less mix available at most garden centers. It is relatively lightweight, free of insects and diseases and has a good water-holding capacity. Because soil-less mixes are low in nutrients, you will need to fertilize your window box plantings regularly. If you wish, you may mix in a slow-release fertilizer before planting.

Many plants work well in window boxes, from annuals and grasses to shrubs and miniature roses. First, lay out your plants while they're still in their pots. Buy small ones, in cell-packs or four-inch containers. Not only are they more economical in this size, they are also easier to work with. In no time, they will grow into a lush and beautiful display.

Feel free to experiment with different plant combinations but avoid planting in rows. Instead, stagger plants in a zigzag pattern which will look less rigid. In general, place taller plants in the back, closest to the window. Next, have some mounding plants of middle height. Finally, include some trailing plants that will spill down the side of the window box.

When you have the plants arranged how you like them, plant them about a half-inch below the rim so there is room to water. Gently firm the soil around them and water well. Window boxes in full sun may need watering every day. For high-up ones, you may want to consider investing in self-watering window boxes, which are available from online stores and some garden centers. Try not to let your plants wilt before watering as this extreme stress can reduce their performance. Every two weeks, feed with a water-soluble fertilizer. When flowers or leaves fade, remove them to keep the plants healthy and looking their best.

With virtually limitless design possibilities, window boxes offer a unique way to accent and brighten your home's facade. Next time you feel boxed in, you might also think it's terrific as you gaze at the flowers waving in your windows.

Easy plants for window boxes

• Tall: coleus, grasses, salvia, heliotrope, dusty miller

• Middle: snap dragon, geranium, impatiens, petunia, lobelia, begonia

• Trailing: ivy, nasturtiums, moss rose, verbena, million bells