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Window boxes

stephanie.a.christodoulostephanie.a.christodoulo Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello

I'd like to make some window boxes for the front of my house. Gets the sun in the morning ( the back garden is south west facing). Also ideas for pots in the front too. 

A big pop of colour would be lovely in spring and summer or as long as possible. I understand this isn't possible in the winter.

I would oddly like to make them now ( August even though I'll have to wait next year to benefit) as I have two weeks at home with the kids ( long summer school break) and we like a joint project and we could go to a local garden centre who have their sales on. I'm thinking perennials so they flower year after year. 
Thanks so much

S
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2022
    @stephanie.a.christodoulo I looked after some window boxes for many years, in spring they were planted with with Balcon Pelargoniums and in the autumn the  compost was replaced and wallflowers were grown instead. It was necessary to remove the compost partly because it was spent and also the roots had used all the compost. They were in a southerly aspect. Hope this is helpful and welcome.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2022
    A very good use of time off, with helpers!  From my own experience, I would suggest you consider your plantings in window boxes as transient, based on suitable plants for the season, rather than permanent plantings to suit all seasons.  Their growth will be limited by the volume of compost anyway, so you should really refresh this, or top it up, with new seasonal plantings.  

    For winter colour, you can rely on violas or winter pansies, adding some small daffodil bulbs like tete a tete for spring colour.  From March onwards, Erigeron karvinskianus (a perennial) will give you bright daisy-like white tinged with pink flowers until December, if the weather's mild.  Add plants like Pelargonium, Osteospermum and Bacopa for extra colour throughout the summer - the Bacopa is popular with bees, like Erigeron.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    If you are more N or E facing then begonias and impatiens and fuchsias will do brilliantly.
  • stephanie.a.christodoulostephanie.a.christodoulo Posts: 6
    Plantminded said:
    A very good use of time off, with helpers!  From my own experience, I would suggest you consider your plantings in window boxes as transient, based on suitable plants for the season, rather than permanent plantings to suit all seasons.  Their growth will be limited by the volume of compost anyway, so you should really refresh this, or top it up, with new seasonal plantings.  

    For winter colour, you can rely on violas or winter pansies, adding some small daffodil bulbs like tete a tete for spring colour.  From March onwards, Erigeron karvinskianus (a perennial) will give you bright daisy-like white tinged with pink flowers until December, if the weather's mild.  Add plants like Pelargonium, Osteospermum and Bacopa for extra colour throughout the summer - the Bacopa is popular with bees, like Erigeron.
    This is very useful. Perhaps then it seem it would be better to buy a few things in larger pots for the front garden based on what you mention about soil... especially if I am doing this now for next spring/summer?
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @stephanie.a.christodoulo Most of the plants mentioned in the above posts will need to be thrown away to start a fresh for the next season. The exception is the Erigeron and possibly the Bacopa as it may survive. The Erigeron will all but disappear in the winter but may last more than one season in the same compost. The problem is the roots of most plants will fill a window box in a season just as they would in a pot. If you want the boxes to look good all year you will need to change the plants.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • stephanie.a.christodoulostephanie.a.christodoulo Posts: 6
    GardenerSuze said:
    @stephanie.a.christodoulo Most of the plants mentioned in the above posts will need to be thrown away to start a fresh for the next season. The exception is the Erigeron and possibly the Bacopa as it may survive. The Erigeron will all but disappear in the winter but may last more than one season in the same compost. The problem is the roots of most plants will fill a window box in a season just as they would in a pot. If you want the boxes to look good all year you will need to change the plants.
    Thank you. Seems high maintenance:) for one with little kids. Maybe just pots instead on the floor area if front garden perhaps? 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited August 2022
    Yes, mixed plantings in smallish containers can be high maintenance @stephanie.a.christodoulo.  I only grow single plants in larger pots to give the plants a better chance of growing well without competing with other plants. 

    In your situation, I'd choose some nice medium sized containers and put a group of violas or winter pansies in them now and replace them in April/May with single Pelargoniums or other annuals that you like.  These plants are readily available in garden centres and not expensive.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • stephanie.a.christodoulostephanie.a.christodoulo Posts: 6
    Plantminded said:
    Yes, mixed plantings in smallish containers can be high maintenance @stephanie.a.christodoulo.  I only grow single plants in larger pots to give the plants a better chance of growing well without competing with other plants. 

    In your situation, I'd choose some nice medium sized containers and put a group of violas or winter pansies in them now and replace them in April/May with single Pelargoniums or other annuals that you like.  These plants are readily available in garden centres and not expensive.
    Is it best to buy the Pelargoniums next spring then rather than now? I do have protected areas I could leave them over the winter and live in a fence London garden that isn't window or too cold. 

    Thanks so much for your help

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2022
    There won't be any advantage to buying them now. You will probably finish up with some very leggy plants if you do. They may not survive the winter or become diseased.
    Get fresh stock next spring.
    If you are looking for a mini garden project now how about growing some seeds?

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • stephanie.a.christodoulostephanie.a.christodoulo Posts: 6
    Okay. That's sounds good. Any recommendations? For things to bloom in spring summer 

    Would it also be bad to buy general plant now too.? Ie I wanted a classic jasmine climber to cover a drain pipe. And a fuscia for a pot. I'm such a novice. Sorry for these questions 😃
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