Although window - boxes can be a ready - made , a made - to - measure line of teak , cedar or oak tree will look honorable than an ill - fitting occasion made of unreal materials . hardwood reckon well unpainted and may be either oil or varnished . Softwoods should be address with preservatives and may be paint . The timber should be at least 1 curium ( 1/2 in ) thick and the inside depth should be from 18 - 25 centimetre ( 7 - 10 in ) . If the windowpane sill outdo 1.6 m ( 5 foot ) you may make two box , each half the required distance to make fixing and handling easy . If the front of the boxwood slopes at a slight angle outwards it will be easier togrow trailing plantsin the box seat . It is skilful to use screws of galvanized atomic number 26 or organisation to take the various sections of the box together . drain hole are essential and should be about 1 curium ( 1/2 in ) in diameter . Make a double row of holes with about 16 centimeter ( 6 in ) between the holes in each row .
Fixing
Awindow - box on a high sill that is not securely fixed can be dangerous , so use long hasp and staple adjustment to secure the box to the window physical body . The eye can be screwed to the side of the box and the hook to the window shape . This makes it easy to remove the loge . Where the window ledge has a down and outward slope use a batten of Sir Henry Wood to even out up the boxful .
Ready-made boxes
woods , galvanise iron , aluminium , credit card , and fibreglass are all material used , and manytypes have galvanized containers that can be plantedand then just unload into position . This get it easy to switchcontainers with plantsnewly - flowering to take the place of container in which the industrial plant have finished flowering . This advantage can also be hold by using the boxes forpot plants , which can be placed on shallow trays within the box .
Preparation
Thesoil should have a good texture and be rich in humusand plant nutrients . It is better to ready the box actually sited on the window shelf , as this saves carry a corner full of soil to the ledge and siting it in what is often an embarrassing stead . Lay violate crock on the bottom of the box at about 1 cm ( 1/2 in ) mystifying to prevent soil being launder out of the drainage holes and at the same timegiveadequate drain . On top of this a unchewable material such as peat should be laid at a depth of 5 centimetre ( 2 in ) . To within 1 cm ( bin ) of the rim the soil proper should be John Innes No 2 , or you’re able to mix up 3 parts loam ( or honorable garden land ) , 1 part of peat or leafmould and 1 part of crisp sand . To each add 4d1 ( bushel ) add two or three handful of bonemeal . Thesoil should be changed every two or three years , or the top 5 - 7 cm ( 2 - 3 in ) should be put back with fresh land or compost .
Planting
Pelargoniums or fuchsias , in affiliation with genus Alyssum or lobelia , together with leafage plant , such as flame nettle , or the grey - leavedSenecio cineraria , will put up asummer displayrequiring little maintenance . Hardy and half - hardy plants , let in neckcloth , old maid and verbena , all give a long - endure display if the dead bloom are pick off on a regular basis . Tobacco plants , Gallic and African marigoldsalso make a good effect .
Less orthodox planting includes begonias ( both tuberous and fibrous - root species ) , ferns , fuchsias , creeping Jenny(Lysimachia nummularia ) with periwinkles , Tradescantia fluminensis , and the smaller decorative ivies , all of which are suitable for a north - confront facial expression . Where there is partial shade only ( north - east and north - west vista ) begonias , genus Pelargonium , lobelia , madwort and phacelias all do well . French and African marigold , Salvia splendens , such Pelargonium as ‘ Paul Crampel ’ , ` Gustav Emich ’ and ‘ Henry Jacoby ’ , contrasted with the silvery leaf ofHelichrysum frigidumorH. angustifolium , or the ruby petunia ‘ Comanche ’ with the paler zinnias , are all desirable for full sunlight . By using bush , conifer , andpot plantsit is potential to obtain a more speedy display . Cyclamens , cinerarias , schizanthus and primula are fantabulous , but the first three need a sheltered due south - facing aspect . passel chrysanthemums are tougher , provide they have been harden off . These can be used in the box from April to November or December .
Trailing plants and climbers
Creeping Jenny , sneaker crawler , ivy - leaved geranium , and nasturtiums are cosmetic , and on south - facing aspects , the trailingCampanula fragiliscan be induced to give a fine display in late summertime . climb plantsshould be plant at the ends of the loge and allow to climb up the walls on either side of the window with suitable supports . Cobaea scandens isan outstanding half - sturdy mounter which will scale 10 m ( 30 foot ) in one time of year . The gilded leaved hop . Humulus japonicus aureus , is another interesting and attractive climber .
Climbing nasturtiums will stick to string or wires , and good varieties include the scarlet ‘ Lucifer ’ and the rich red ‘ Indian Chief’ . Ipomoea rubrocaerulea ‘ HeavenlyBlue ’ ( sunrise glory ) is another half - hardy climbing iron that likes a sheltered , sunny position . The convolvulus - type heyday open in the morning and are eat up by noon and have intensely blue Sarracenia flava .
More lasting climbers are the compact ivies , such asHedera helixaureo - variegataor the smaller - leaved ` Buttercup ’ . Vines , also the Virginian crawler , Parthenocissus quinquefolia , or the smaller - entrust , more compactP. henryana , Vitis vinifera purpureaandV. coignetiaeare all suitable .
Bulbs
One of the good times of yr for a window - box is early in the twelvemonth when daffodil , tulips , hyacinths , scillas , chionodoxas and otherbulbs are flowering . industrial plant nearly as shortly as the summertime video display has ended , or plant bulbs at the item of florescence after Christmas . Make certain that the latter are inure off and do not put them outside until early March . Freesias are also pretty bulbplantings for window box gardens .
