The type of window box you choose will partly depend on the style and surroundings, if they are traditional, contemporary or very modern. A wooden window box would suit a country style garden/building while something more formal is required for a Georgian house. Metal boxes would suit more modern buildings, but the traditional terracotta window box will suit most surroundings. You can also use plastic containers, but with all of these options always ensure that they are well secured.
By their very nature window boxes are narrow and shallow and are not really suitable for permanent planting. They don’t hold a lot of compost and therefore will need to watered and fed more regularly. Decide what you want your window box for; is it as a floral display or is it something you want to use in the kitchen like herbs and vegetables?
What is your colour scheme going to be? Try to put your own personal stamp on it, play around with colours and varieties of plants!
Summer Flowering: You have such a variety of plants to choose from eg. Pelargonium, Antirrhinum, Petunia, Diascia, Lobelia, Bacopa, Begonia, Glechoma and an endless choice of combinations. Consider whether the window box will be in sun or shade and choose your plants accordingly. For example a window box in the shade would look beautiful with double non-stop Begonias or Busy Lizzies planted with Lobelia is a fabulous combination. Choose all the same colour or combine different colours together. Ensure that they are not allowed to dry out and keep them regularly fed.
Autumn/Winter/Spring Flowering: Depending on weather conditions your Summer flowering window box should last until mid September. It’s now time to prepare your window box for next few seasons including the Spring. Start by renewing the compost and half fill it again and start to layer Spring flowering bulbs into your container, choose low growing bulbs like tete a tete daffodils and dwarf tulips, then look at plants that will give you colour through out the Autumn and Winter. Plants such as Mini Cyclamen and Viola will give long lasting colour as do primula and polyanthus. The idea of under planting with the bulbs is so by the time the cyclamen and violas are coming to an end you will have beautiful spring flowers coming through to replace them. This year though the winter was so mild all 3 were flowering together in my window box.
Until next time. Enjoy choosing your plants and planting up your window box. Don't forget to check out our new website Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
Monica Schmidt, Horticulturalist at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
By their very nature window boxes are narrow and shallow and are not really suitable for permanent planting. They don’t hold a lot of compost and therefore will need to watered and fed more regularly. Decide what you want your window box for; is it as a floral display or is it something you want to use in the kitchen like herbs and vegetables?
What is your colour scheme going to be? Try to put your own personal stamp on it, play around with colours and varieties of plants!
Summer Flowering: You have such a variety of plants to choose from eg. Pelargonium, Antirrhinum, Petunia, Diascia, Lobelia, Bacopa, Begonia, Glechoma and an endless choice of combinations. Consider whether the window box will be in sun or shade and choose your plants accordingly. For example a window box in the shade would look beautiful with double non-stop Begonias or Busy Lizzies planted with Lobelia is a fabulous combination. Choose all the same colour or combine different colours together. Ensure that they are not allowed to dry out and keep them regularly fed.
Autumn/Winter/Spring Flowering: Depending on weather conditions your Summer flowering window box should last until mid September. It’s now time to prepare your window box for next few seasons including the Spring. Start by renewing the compost and half fill it again and start to layer Spring flowering bulbs into your container, choose low growing bulbs like tete a tete daffodils and dwarf tulips, then look at plants that will give you colour through out the Autumn and Winter. Plants such as Mini Cyclamen and Viola will give long lasting colour as do primula and polyanthus. The idea of under planting with the bulbs is so by the time the cyclamen and violas are coming to an end you will have beautiful spring flowers coming through to replace them. This year though the winter was so mild all 3 were flowering together in my window box.
Until next time. Enjoy choosing your plants and planting up your window box. Don't forget to check out our new website Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
Monica Schmidt, Horticulturalist at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion 
