PLANT UP A WINDOW BOX
Careful preparation is the secret to a spectacular display…
1
First make sure your window box is clean. By giving it a good scrub you’ll help to keep pests and diseases at bay.
2
Drainage holes prevent waterlogging. Cover them with old crocks – this will stop the earth becoming impacted around the hole and allow water to drain away.
3
If you have a terracotta window box, line it with a plastic bag to reduce the need for watering. Be sure to cut several holes in the bag, particularly over the drainage holes.
4
Provide a drainage reservoir by adding a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot to roughly a tenth of its depth.
5
Fill the pot with good quality compost to two inches from the top. Never use garden soil as this won’t contain the right nutrients.
6
Add pre-soaked water-retaining granules into your compost keep it wet for longer. They increase dramatically in size when watered, then release water back into the soil when your plants need it most.
7
Mix in a slow- or continuous-release fertiliser with your compost.
8
Add your plants, firming the compost around them to ensure that they’re well grounded and to knock out any air pockets from the compost.
9
Finally, add some mulch (gravel, glass chippings, cobbles) to the surface of the compost, leaving at least half an inch from the top so that when you’re watering, it doesn’t simply spill out over the edge. Mulch will provide a polished finish, keep compost in position, help prevent water evaporation and stop weeds from seeding so easily.
10
Once it’s planted, ensure the window box is well secured and well watered – containers, particularly if they’re terracotta, can dry out quickly in the sun and wind. If you’ve provided good drainage, it’s difficult to overwater a containerised plant; most will need watering at least once a day through the summer, but the results will be worth it!