Window boxes are a simple go-to approach when looking to add a touch of charm and color to your home’s exterior. Whether you want to showcase your favorite flowers or grow some herbs for your kitchen, planting a window box is a fun and rewarding experience that you can engage in.
Window boxes benefit the look and feel of your house by adding a splash of color and texture. It can also enhance your home’s curb appeal by making it look cultured and well-maintained. This guide will walk you through the six simple steps you can put into practice to create a beautiful and thriving window box that will add beauty and personality to your home.
- Choose The Right Window Box
Window boxes come in a wide variety of styles, materials, and sizes. Some of the most popular types are the self watering window boxes, wooden boxes, and ceramic or terracotta window boxes.
When choosing one, consider the material—often wood, metal, or plastic—your aesthetic preference and local weather conditions. The choice of material combined with the weather conditions determines the durability of your window box, as it will often be exposed to external elements.
Also, the box size should align with your window’s width and have a depth that can accommodate your plants’ roots. The weight of the filled container should also factor in ensuring that the ledge will support your window box.
- Select The Right Plants For Your Box
The right plants for your window box will depend on environmental factors like sunlight, water, and soil conditions. Some popular choices include herbs like basil, rosemary, and lavender. You can also go for flowers like petunias or vegetables like lettuce or radish.
When choosing these plants, ensure they are colorful and easy to maintain. Also, consider each plant’s leaves’ size, shape, and color to ensure they best represent your window box’s aesthetics.
- Prepare Your Box
When preparing your window box, fill it with high-quality potting soil. You can also consider adding fertilizer for extra nutrition. This will ensure your plants have all the nutrients they need to thrive.
If you are partial to synthetic fertilizers, add organic material like compost or mulch to the soil to make your box more sustainable. You may also consider adding some decorative elements like stones or marbles to the bottom of your planter for added visual appeal.
- Arrange Your Plants
To save you too much work, arrange your plants in the order you would wish to appear when you transfer them to the window box. You can also use a plant marker to label each plant so that you know what they are and where they should go. Place taller plants in the back, shorter ones in the front, and trailing plants along the edges.
- Plant Them In Your Window Box
When it comes to planting, it is advisable to use composted soil as a base for your plants because of its nutrient value. Make sure to cut any long roots so the flowers or vegetables fit into the window box. You may also need to trim some leaves if they are too large or overlap with other plants’ leaves.
Fill around the plants with more soil until it’s level with the top of the roots but leave some space at the top of the box for watering. Also, leave enough space between the plants to give them an equal chance for growth.
- Water And Maintain The Plants
You need to water the plants depending on their types. If you have planted succulents, they will need water less often than other plants as they store more water inside them. You’ll need to water your plants every few days until their roots are properly established and they begin growing in the boxes again.
Once the growth begins, consider cutting back on watering them, but keep an eye on how much moisture there is in the soil. If you’re unsure how much to water your plants, try using a soil moisture meter or stick your finger into the soil until it feels damp but not wet.
Apart from watering the soil, consider fertilizing every few weeks. Make sure to use high-quality fertilizer or compost to ensure healthy growth.
The Takeaway
Planting a window box can be fun and rewarding for anyone looking to add greenery and beauty to their home. With these six simple steps in mind, you can create a stunning display of colorful flowers and lush green foliage outside your window. Remember to choose the right plants for your location, and use high-quality soil, fertilizer, and water regularly to ensure your window box thrives.
