Question: How To Build A Window Planter Box

Table of Contents

Step 1: Cut List. Cut 3/4″-thick cypress or cedar boards to following dimensions: Step 2: Secure the Cleats. prev. Step 3: Assemble Front and Back. prev. Step 4: Assemble Sides. Drill Needed for Window Box Project. Step 5: Attach Trim. Step 6: Prime and Paint. Step 7: Hang the Window Box. Step 8: Create Drainage.

Is it cheaper to build your own planter box?

Building raised planter boxes is very easy, and usually more cost effective than purchasing them.

How deep should a window planter box be?

A minimum of 8 inches in depth and 8 inches from front to back is required to have enough room for a selection of plants. Larger–say a foot in depth and width–is even better, particularly if you want to include a lot of plants and want them to fill out enough to overflow the box.

What do you put in the bottom of a window box?

In addition to drilled holes, stones and gravel are essential to proper drainage of windowboxes. Put a two- to three-inch layer of pea gravel or pebbles in the bottom of the planter. This will allow water to filter through the soil and gravel before passing through the drilled holes.

What do you put in the bottom of a planter for drainage?

Put a layer of gravel in your plant’s drainage tray, or down inside a decorative planter, then sit your plant pot on top. The gravel will hold water and increase humidity, while keeping your plant’s roots up out of the puddle. Gravel comes in handy when sitting a plant inside a decorative planter.

Do planter boxes need drainage holes?

Do Planter Boxes Need Drainage Holes? Yes. Planter boxes need very good drainage holes at the bottom of the container. Any water that stagnates will choke out the oxygen that is channeled to the roots.

What kind of wood should I use for a planter box?

Cedar, white oak and redwood naturally resist termites and other insects. They stand up very well to the elements and last season after season. They can, however, require more upfront investment. Soft woods such as pine work best for indoor planters.

How do you make a wooden window box?

What soil is best for window boxes?

Purchase a sterile potting mix containing peat, perlite, and other ingredients that improve drainage, aeration, fertility, and water-holding capacity. Consider using a water-absorbing polymer to decrease watering frequency.

How do you hang a window box without drilling?

The most common method for attaching window boxes to the side of the house involves using screws, but if you have vinyl siding, bypass the drilling by using vinyl siding hooks. Slide the hooks into the seam of the siding, and you’re ready to hang your planter.

Should window boxes go on all windows?

A good rule of thumb: Match the width of the flower box to the width of the window. Use smaller flower boxes on smaller windows, and larger ones on larger windows. Matching the right window box to your home can add curb appeal, but there are many things to consider before making a final decision.

Should a window box be bigger or smaller than the window?

For the best visual effect, your window box should be at least as wide as the window but should not extend more than three inches beyond the trim on each side.

Should you line planter boxes with plastic?

You need to line your planter box if it’s made from wood or metal. The liner will help prolong the planter’s life. You don’t need to use a liner if the planter is made using plastic, ceramic, or concrete as they are quite durable by themselves.

How do you water a window box when away?

Place the lid on the cut soda bottle. Make four to six holes in the lid. Submerge the bottle in the soil of the window box to hide it a bit but leave the cut end out of the soil. Fill with water and allow the slow drip to irrigate the window box.

How do I keep my window box from drying out?

The soil in window boxes dries out quickly. To help retain moisture, mix in a soil amendment when you first fill it. Sphagnum peat moss is a good choice for an organic product that is sustainably harvested. Synthetic products are usually polymeric hydrogels, added to the soil as pellets or a powder.

How do you secure a window sill planter?

If you’re worried, secure your planter to your windowsill Window Fleur boxes come with detachable arms which will help keep your planters in place. You could create a similar effect by placing a security wire around your planter, or using some kind of bracket to keep it in place.

How do self-watering window boxes work?

Consisting of a growing bed, potting soil, water reservoir, and wicking system that puts the soil in contact with the water, self-watering pots work through capillary action, or wicking. As the plant roots absorb water, the soil wicks up more, maintaining a consistent level of moisture in the soil.

What do you put in the bottom of a planter without drainage holes?

Some experts suggest using a layer of pebbles as a sort of drainage layer in those pots without drainage holes. This technique allows excess water to flow into the space with the pebbles, away from the the soil and therefore the roots of your plant.

Should you put gravel in bottom of planter?

A: For years, experts told gardeners to put a layer of gravel, pebbles, sand or broken pieces of pot in the bottom of the pot before potting up houseplants or outdoor plants. The idea was to improve drainage. But research shows that this advice is wrong. Water doesn’t travel well from one medium to another.

Can you put Styrofoam in the bottom of planters?

It is not recommended to use Styrofoam peanuts for potted plants now, because they may break down in water and soil, leaving you with sunken in containers. If pieces begin to dissolve in the water, do not use them in the bottom of pots.

Should you line a planter box?

The best way to prevent deck planters from rotting is with a liner. Lining a wood planter prevents water and fungi from contacting the wood. For a small planter, every fall, emptying and cleaning out the planter will prevent rot. With the wood drying out over winter and fungi slowed without dirt or water.

Does a planter need a base?

Bed Height for Drainage Raised planters do not have a base, meaning that the soil of your planter drains down to the topsoil on the ground. This provides a depth of 11 or 12 inches before the planter’s soil drains down into the ground, thereby avoiding water-logged soil.