TODAY’S BOX CHOICES
Unless your needs are unique, consider an off-the-shelf or semicustomized box rather than building one. Choices abound in materials (cedar, PVC, cultured stone, fiberglass, various metals), sizes, liners, mounting systems, and cost. Selfwatering systems a
in place). Water after the box is hung.
A railing box is hard to get just right; again, you might want to try out plastic liners or make a cardboard template. Too small and they look spotty (plus, small boxes dry out quicky). Too big and they may interfere with the safety and utility of the rail, particularly near stairs.
BOX TYPES In most cases, buy a simple box that requires little maintenance; not even halfway through the season, your plants will cover the box anyway. The exception is when the box is large and prominent and will remain on the house year-round. In that case, natural materials that age with patina (real wood, iron, copper, stone, cement) are better than plastics and even too-perfect PVC.
Historically the boxes were made of rot-resistant wood. Stone and concrete were used regionally. Chicago’s brick bungalows, as an example, had boxes of unpainted cast stone or concrete, often detailed with geometric bands or scrolls. Replacing them in kind can get pricey —$400 and up. Using a concrete box is appropriate, it will develop patina, and it’s too heavy to steal. But drainage may not be adequate, you have fewer options for size, plants will need more frequent watering, and the box may crack during freeze–thaw cycles.
Wood, commonly cedar, is the most popular material today and cheaper than stone or cement. Design and color options abound, wood is easier to move, plants stay cooler and better drained. But wood does require refinishing every few years.
Metal, fiberglass, and PVC planters are fairly economical. (Plastic must be kept painted to avoid fading and cracking.) PVC planter boxes look like painted wood; many come with a factory finish, and one manufacturere offers a real bronze coating. Unlike vinyl, wood, and most metal boxes, a box made of cellular PVC will not rot, sag, crack, or rust.
Fiberglass boxes (made of a reinforced resin used for surfboards) are generally available from 24" to 72" long. Paint color may match window trim; or choose a neutral color that complements the masonry and doesn’t compete with the plants.
Metal grille enclosures are handsome, recalling somewhat those European balconettes or false balconies enclosing tall upper-storey windows or French doors.
If you have a special design situation— the box is an unusual size or proportion, or you want to match an original—you’ll want a custom box or to make it yourself. Rot-resistant cedar remains a good choice in much of the country. Adequate drain- age holes are a necessity. Prime cedar boxes with an oil-based, stain-blocking primer. Let the primer dry for at least a day before you apply finish coats. Use compatible, high-quality exterior paint. The box will stay cleaner and be washable if you use a semi-gloss paint.
Liners are readily available and most are cheap; Home Depot has many types and sizes. The liner may be plastic or galvanized metal. For a wrought-iron box cage, use copper or galvanized metal (or a lined wood box), not plastic. Metal liners for this purpose come powder-coated in a range of colors, including a real copper finish that will develop patina.
The liner makes planting easier, holds moisture, and protects the wood box from wet soil and eventual deterioration.
ATTACHMENT Heavy boxes will stay put on masonry corbels or a sill. If there’s concern about the box shifting or falling, perhaps because of wind load or struc- tural issues, do attach the back of the box itself to the masonry or to studs in the wall under the window. Boxes filled with wet soil are heavy: you don’t want it falling off the house, taking sheathing with it or hitting somebody. Check for level and drill pilot holes, then use lag bolts or a combination of clips and bolts. Cleats (interlocking brackets placed on the wall and the back of the window box) create an invisible hanging system.
Wooden brackets, screwed into wall studs, can be used for additional support and visual interest. Again, use best practices for attaching the brackets to wood or masonry. Even with brackets, bolt the back of the box to the wall if it is on an upper storey or likely to shift.
Note, however, that the box should not contact the wall. Always leave space for water to drain and for shingles or stucco to dry out. Ideally the liner will keep the box itself relatively dry. Inspect the box for damage or rot at the end of the season.