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Always make sure your window box has drainage holes. To aid drainage, place 2 inches of nonbiodegradable packing peanuts or old wine corks in the bottom of the box, and then cover with landscape fabric to prevent soil from seeping out. Next, fill the box halfway with potting soil, and add your plants.
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.
How do you organize plants in a window box?
Fill the box evenly throughout. You don’t want your window box to look lopsided or haphazardly thrown together. Try to organize the plants in such a way that they look somewhat symmetrical in the window box. Include a variety of leafy plants and flowering plants on each side, not just each concentrated in one area.
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.
What do I line my flower box with?
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 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.
How do you pick flowers for a window box?
Petunias, geraniums, zinnias, nasturtiums, and begonias are good choices for main-theme flowers. Fill in with things like inch plant, ivy, euonymus, heather, or vinca, which will cascade over the edge of the box. Impatiens do well in shady locations. More subtle choices include coleus, heliotrope, and salvia.
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.
How often should you water a window box?
Frequent watering is the most important part of caring for plants in window boxes. As with most containers, window boxes will need to be watered at least once a day.
Are petunias good for window boxes?
Trailing petunias are one of the most popular plants for window boxes. They grow best in a position that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day and they can tolerate hot temperatures and humidity. Petunias come in a wide range of colors including purple, pink, red, yellow and white.
Can lavender grow in window boxes?
Lavender is particularly suitable as a balcony bloomer because the plant can cope well with sun and wind, and is available in sizes ranging from small enough for a window box through to larger specimens which can be displayed solo in a pot.
Can you plant hostas in window boxes?
Many of the smaller Hostas do quite well in window boxes, too. Designing with Hostas can be fun. Take a look around and see where you could use a bit of drama.
How do you start a planter box?
How to Garden in Planter Boxes Step 1: Fill your portable container with soil. For any container planting, you’re going to use potting soil. Step 2: Choose your plants. Before you choose what to plant, ask yourself the following questions: Step 3: Water and watch your edible garden thrive. Step 4: Harvest your hard work.
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).
How do you water a window box?
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 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.
What plants grow well in planter boxes?
Top 19 Planter Box Plants Basil. Green beans. Parsley. Peas. Peppers. Potatoes. Radishes. Strawberries.
