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 do you organize plants in a window box?
The tallest plants should still be low enough that you can see past them from inside the house, so don’t use anything that gets taller than 12 inches. Plant the tallest plants in the back of the box, bushy plants in the middle, and trailers in the front, where they will spill over the edge.
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.
What should I line my planter box with?
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.
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 many plants should I put 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.
Do window boxes need drainage?
It’s absolutely necessary that a window box have drainage holes so plants do not sit in soggy soil. If your box does not come with holes, you will need to drill holes in the bottom before installation.
Are window boxes bad for your house?
Window boxes are meant to add color and beauty to your home. However, if not cared for or installed properly, a window box can cause water damage to the wall where it hangs that will need to be repaired.
How do you install 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 a window box be wider 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.
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 vincas good for window boxes?
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. Window boxes look their best if they’re packed with plants!.
Should you put rocks at the bottom of a planter?
This is false. Putting gravel, rocks, or other layers of material in your plant pots, planters, or containers with drainage holes does NOT improve potting soil drainage, it instead increases the water saturation level that leads to root rot.
How do I keep my window box from rotting?
How to Prevent Rot With Planter Boxes Use a peat-based commercial potting mixture. A mixture of peat moss combined with other ingredients such as vermiculite, perlite or sand will drain well, keep plants from drying out too quickly, and it will be lightweight.
Should planters have drain holes?
Drainage Holes Holes in the bottom of the planter are essential for proper drainage. The holes give the excess water an escape route so it doesn’t stay in the soil. Many flower pots come with only one drainage hole. Others don’t have any holes at all.
Can you use pressure treated wood for planter boxes?
Yes, the “new” pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames with a few precautions! Up until 2003, the most common preservative used for pressure treated wood was chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a compound using arsenic as its primary rot protectant.
Should you line a wooden planter?
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.
How do you protect the inside of a planter box?
With a putty knife, apply roofing cement to the inside of the planter. This will protect the wood from water and keep it from rotting. Cover the drain holes in the bottom with landscape fabric to keep the soil from washing out. Finally, fill your planter with a good quality potting soil.
How do you seal untreated wood for planter boxes?
Raw linseed oil, derived from the flax plant, is a perfect, natural alternative when it comes to wood treatment if you’re trying to avoid chemical sealants that could end up harming your plants. Applying this linseed oil to untreated wood will increase its water-repellant properties, and help weatherproof it.
