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Window Boxes

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Window Boxes

If you don't have a garden, or it's just not big enough, a window box is ideal for bringing a piece of the outdoors closer. Window boxes provide useful additional planting space and a display which can be observed closely and tended at your leisure. Here's how to make and fix a window box.

Time to complete job: 2 hours to make, 1 hour to plant up.
Approximate budget: £45

You will need:

Marine plywood or pressure treated softwood at least 12 mm (1\2in) thick
Drill
Water-resistant glue
Clamp
Rust-resistant screws
Wood preservative
Brackets
Screws
Rawlplugs

Which type to choose?
A number of ready-made window boxes are available, from simple plastic trays to ornate wood. Choose one that will blend in with your house wall - the more natural-looking the better. Before buying consider how the box will be fixed. Is the sill wide and strong enough? If not it will need fitting.

Window boxes can be fitted on walls facing any direction but south and west-facing will require more watering. North-facing boxes will need shade tolerant plants.

Tip: If your box is in a very hot position insert polystyrene tiles along the front to keep the inside cool.

Have some fun with the UKTV Style virtual window box at Grow for it!

Click to enlarge

Step 1: Make your own

Measure the width of your window. Window boxes look best if they stretch between the outside edges of the window.
Buy a plastic tray the same length as the width of the window. Try the tray against the window to make sure you have the right size.
Cut pieces of wood for the front, back, bottom and ends of the box from 2cm (3/4in) thick exterior plywood. The length of the front and back pieces should be your desired width plus 5cm (2in) - to hold the base of the tray.
Join the ends to the back and mitre the front corner joints. Glue all joints, using water-resistant glue. Reinforce the joints with 4cm (1.5in) deck screws.