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Summer is in the air, and that means it’s time to start thinking about planting flowers and vegetables! A great way to add a little bit of greenery to your home is by building a window planter box. Window boxes are a great way to add color and life to any room, and they’re also a great way to show off your gardening skills. In this blog post, we will teach you how to build your very own window planter box!
Carpenter Nathan Gilbert and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada help a homeowner tackle a curb appeal upgrade. Nathan offers the solution of adding some custom-made window planters, made from low-maintenance PVC. After building them, Nathan mounts the boxes directly to the home for worry-free style.
Skill level: ⅖ Cost: $75 to $150 per box Time: 3 hours per box
Nathan used stock 1”x10” Azek and stock Azek band molding and base cap molding (https://azekco.com/) to build three identical window boxes. To cut the materials to size, Nathan used a sliding compound miter saw which is manufactured by Dewalt (https://www.dewalt.com/).
To secure the front, back, bottom, and side pieces together, Nathan used 2 part PVC glue, 1 ¼ – inch brads, and 2 ½ -inch stainless steel trim head screws, which can all be found at home centers. He secured the molding with 2 part PVC glue and 1-inch brads. To allow for drainage, Nathan created drainage holes on the bottom of the window boxes. He used a ½ inch spade bit to drill holes every 8 inches along the centerline of the bottom piece of Azek.
Nathan mounted each window box directly to the house’s siding. He pre-drilled pilot holes, added caulk into each hole, then used 4-inch structural screws to secure the box to the clapboard through the pre-drilled holes.
Jenn lined the window boxes with one layer of landscape fabric, which can be found at garden and home centers. On top of the landscape fabric, she added handfuls of Hoffman Volcanic Lava Rock (https://goodearth.org/) to cover the drainage holes. Jenn used a combination of annuals and perennials to fill the window boxes, which get morning sun and afternoon shade. Plants and flowers used include Northern Maidenhair Ferns, Pearly White, Glacier Ivy, begonia, bush violet, and vinca, which she planted in Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil (http://foxfarm.com/).
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What Is A Window Planter Box?
A window planter box is a box that is placed on or near a window to hold plants. Window planter boxes come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. They can be made out of wood, plastic, metal, or even concrete. Window planter boxes are a great way to add color and life to your home without taking up too much space.
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How to build a flower/window box
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Should Window Boxes Be On Every Window?
It depends on your personal preference and budget. If you love the look of flowers blooming in window boxes you can put them on every window or space them out evenly. Window boxes are a great way to add curb appeal to your home and they’re relatively easy and inexpensive to build yourself.
With a few tools and some basic carpentry skills, you can build a Window Planter Box that will last for years.
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Do Window Boxes Need Drainage?
Yes, all planters need drainage. Window boxes are no different. Without drainage, water will pool in the bottom of the box and rot the roots of your plants. To provide drainage, drill a few holes in the bottom of your box before you add soil or install it on your window.
If you’re using a plastic or metal window box, you can add drainage holes yourself with a drill. Most companies that sell wooden window boxes will be happy to do this for you.
Once your window box has drainage holes, line the bottom with landscape fabric. This will help prevent soil from washing out of the holes when you water. Then add your potting mix and plants.
When watering, be sure to water slowly and evenly until water begins to drip out of the drainage holes. This will ensure that all the roots get a good drink without drowning in too much water.
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How Often Should You Water Window Boxes?
You should water your window boxes every day, or at least every other day. Watering in the morning is best so that the plants have all day to absorb the water and avoid getting too much sun. Be sure to check the soil before watering to make sure it is dry; if it is still damp, wait another day before watering again.
If you live in a particularly hot or dry climate, you may need to water your window boxes more than once a day. If the soil is very dry and the plants are wilting, give them a good soaking until the water runs out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the box. Then, wait a few hours and check the soil again; if it is dry, water the plants again.
In general, it is better to err on the side of too much water than too little; if the soil is constantly wet, however, the roots will rot and the plants will die. If you are unsure whether or not to water, it is always better to wait another day and check the soil again. With a little practice, you will be able to tell when your plants need water just by looking at them.
Do Window Boxes Cause Damage?
Yes, window boxes can cause damage to your home if they are not installed properly. Window boxes can add weight to your window sills and may cause them to sag over time. Additionally, if the boxes are not properly secured, they can fall off and break your windows.
To avoid damage to your home, it is important to install window boxes correctly and use the proper materials. When installing window boxes, make sure to use brackets that are heavy duty and can support the weight of the box and plants. Additionally, it is important to use screws that are long enough to securely fasten the bracket to the window sill.
If you follow these tips, you can enjoy the beauty of window boxes without damaging your home.
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