Table of Contents
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.
How many plants should be in a window box?
Traditional planting is when you allow enough room between plants that the planter looks full after 2 to 3 weeks of additional growth. Generally I would use 3 or maybe 4 plants in 10 or 12-inch planters, 4 to 6 plants in a 14 to 16-inch planter and Six to 8 plants in an 16 to 20-inch planter and so on.
What should I line my planter box with?
Do I Need To Line My Planter Box? You need to line your planter box if it’s made from wood or metal. I would recommend that you use a liner when your planter box is made of organic material like wood. I would suggest using a plastic bag or sheet as a liner if your planter box is made from wood or metal.
What soil is best for window boxes?
The best Black Gold potting mixes for window boxes are Black Gold Moisture Supreme Container Mix, which holds moisture well for less watering, and Black Gold Waterhold Cocoblend, which also holds water well and is OMRI Listed for organic gardening.
What can you plant in a window box in the winter?
Try junipers, arborvitae, False cypress, Japanese yew, spruces, flowering heaths and heathers and boxwoods. Add flowers and pretty foliage for color. Pansies are generally hardy to zone 4 and rebloom in winter in zones 7 and higher, while violas are hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Should you mulch window boxes?
Soil for Window Boxes Choosing a good soil mix will ensure your window box garden is a success. Try using mulch on top of your soil to retain moisture and provide warmth to young plants. A good bark mulch or small gravel will work fine in a 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 many flowers should I plant in a window box?
For a 2′ window box, use 2-3 geraniums, for a 3′ window box use 3-4 geraniums. In between the main plants, put in a filler plant- something that stays lower and more compact such as lobelia, calibrachoa, compact verbenas, flowering vinca or petunias.
What can I plant in a window box now?
12 Plants That Are Perfect for Window Boxes Sweet Potato Vine. 1/12. The lush foliage of sweet potato vine comes in many colors, making it a surefire win for any window box. Coleus. 2/12. Petunias. 3/12. Creeping Jenny. 4/12. Dusty Miller. 5/12. Fuchsia. 6/12. Impatiens. 7/12. Snapdragon. 8/12.
How many bedding plants should be in a window box?
A general rule of thumb when planting a hanging basket is to use one plant per inch of basket diameter – so 12 plants per 30cm (12″) hanging basket. The only exception to this is when you use strong-growing plants such as Fuchsias and Geraniums (Pelargoniums).
Can you plant perennials in window boxes?
If gardening isn’t your thing or if money is an issue, perennials are the perfect choice for window boxes. In the right climate and environment, they can survive through the winter and grow back the following spring. In climates with light frosts, your perennial choices may seem endless.
How do you line a window box?
You can line your box with plastic first if you like (make sure to poke holes in the plastic for drainage). This is just to make it easier to remove the soil year by year. Otherwise just pour your compost straight in; use an organic potting mix, and fill to about an inch from the top of your box.
Do I need to line my 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.
What is the best way to line a wooden planter?
Line the entire planter with a sheet of plastic, trimming it so that it reaches but does not go over the rim. Staple the plastic all the way around the rim. Using a screwdriver or sharp stick, poke through the drilled drainage holes to let excess water drain out of the plastic liner.
Should I line my garden box with plastic?
Avoid lining your garden beds with plastic, as this prevents drainage and could drown your plants’ roots. If you have a weed and pest problem, consider installing a combination of metal mesh and fabric or hardware cloth and cardboard to get both benefits at once.
