How to Prepare Window Boxes

Overview

Window boxes, dripping with lush cascades of flowers and foliage, add charm to any house. Stick with short and draping plants--anything over 8 inches tall will block your view--and choose plants in compatible colors. Keep the boxes within easy reach for watering and maintenance. Be sure the windows are structurally strong enough to support a heavy box filled with dirt.

Step 1

If your window box is not empty, remove everything from it. Wearing gloves, disinfect the window box with a mixture of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water to prevent the transmission of plant diseases. Do not splash the bleach mixture on your clothes. Let the window box dry overnight.

Step 2

Paint or varnish the outside of the window box. Plants are affected by chemicals, so try to find non-toxic, eco-friendly paint. Let the window box dry thoroughly.

Step 3

Drill holes in the bottom of the box for water drainage. Make the holes 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter. Make sure that any existing holes are free of debris. Window boxes need good drainage so the flower roots do not sit in water and rot

Step 4

Cover the bottom inside of the window box with a mesh screen to hold the dirt inside the planter. Do not use rocks; they will increase the weight of the window box.

Step 5

Fill the window box with a lightweight soil mixture. You can purchase lightweight soil mixes in garden stores, or create your own by mixing 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1 part compost.