Landscape Now: Beautiful Window Boxes

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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Frank Crandall, GoLocalWorcester Landscaping Expert

Now that the danger of frost has passed (we certainly hope!) it is time to plant your window boxes, planters and garden pots with sustainable annuals (and perennials) full of color and varying textures for the summer season into the fall. There are three main guidelines for planting your containers:

1. Make sure the container is of sufficient size for planting (window boxes should be at least 8” wide and deep so roots have room to grow and the soil will be able to hold enough water for the plants to thrive). The soil should be a good quality potting mix, the bottom of the container should have holes to let water pass through and a layer of crushed stone placed at the bottom of the pot or window box for drainage.

2. Choose annuals (and perennials) for color, texture, appropriate size and growing conditions (sun, partial sun or shade).

3. Aftercare will include appropriate watering, fertilizing and deadheading as needed.

Window Box and Container Selection

Choose window boxes (wood, plastic or metal) that fit the style of your house and are the width of the windows. Having a depth of 8” or more and a width of 8-10” will give you plenty of room to plant your boxes with annuals and perennials that will make a show and allow the plants to thrive. Make sure holes are drilled in the bottom of the boxes and if there is enough depth place a 1-2” layer of crushed stone for additional drainage. If the boxes are under eves you will have to make sure they are watered regularly since you will not have help from Mother Nature! It is an investment but installing a drip irrigation system will help make watering less of a chore.

Fill your boxes and pots to within several inches of the top with a good quality potting soil. Try to avoid heavy, clay-like soils that do not drain well. You can refresh your boxes every couple of years and add some new soil each season. Alternatively, you can plant annual containers directly into the box or pot and place soil or mulch around the plants. For the best success plant directly into the soil...that will allow the roots to expand and obtain needed water and fertilizer.

Choosing Appropriate Annuals (and Perennials) for Your Containers

There are many selections of annuals and perennials for your window boxes and containers...you can be as creative as you want to be! Make sure the plants you choose are appropriate for your conditions; sunny, partial shade or shade. Read the labels to see what the expected size of the plant will be...do not plant a 30” coleus in a window box that will appear out of place by mid summer. Three selection guides are to pick Thrillers (upright plants for the back of the pot or middle of the window box), Fillers (colorful, full plants to fill in the majority of the container) and Spillers (spreading, drooping plants to cascade down the pot).

Selections:

Thrillers: Angelonia, the spikes of this annual will be beautiful all summer long, 24”, Coleus, this annual is prized for its unusually colorful leaves, will thrive in partial shade or shade, 12-24”, Pennisetum rubra , is a non-hardy, burgundy grass that performs well in containers, 12-18”, and sometimes a perennial like Iris will give the height and color needed to make a container exciting.

Fillers: There are many colorful fillers like New Guinea Impatiens, shade Impatiens, proven winner Petunias, Gazanias, Geraniums, Plumbago, Salvia, Verbena and Torenia. Perennials like Daylilies, Nepeta, Lavender and Minature Roses can add a distinct texture and color to your seasonal containers.

Spillers: Drooping, cascading annuals add interest and balance to your containers. Annuals like Bacopa, Licorice, Ivy, Vinca and Sweet Potato Vine perform well throughout the summer. If they grow too long they can be cut back to ensure their size is in scale to the pots and window boxes.

Watering Your Containers

Regular watering, fertilizing and deadheading will keep the containers looking spectacular throughout the season and into the fall. Watering several times a week with a deep watering will ensure the annuals get the moisture they need. During droughts and heat waves you will have to water more often. Installing a drip irrigation system will evenly water plants at their roots and minimize hand watering. Depending on the type of plants you install periodic deadheading of spent flowers will keep the plant neat and producing new flowers. Fertilizing every couple of weeks with an organic liquid fertilizer like liquid fish emulsion will give the annuals the nutrients they need to perform at their best.

In the next article I will look at watering in the landscape in detail including how and when to water, sprinkler systems, drip irrigation and steps you can take to conserve water in your landscape!

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” -Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Frank Crandall, Horticultural Solutions. Frank is a RI resident specializing in coastal landscaping, organic land care, small business consulting, writing, speaking and photography and will be submitting biweekly articles about Landscape Solutions. Frank just published his third book, Creating a More Peaceful, Happy and Successful Life!. You can read more about his book on his website, www.FrankCrandall3.com. Comments about Frank’s articles are welcome by contacting him at [email protected].

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