Try a Window-Box to Add Color to your Home

Why Window Boxes?

Window boxes have been around for a long time and although they are hugely popular in Europe, they are gaining popularity in the United States. A window box adds color in the middle of an exterior wall by allowing home owners to plant flowers and vines in key locations on any side of the house. 

Window Box on fiber-cement board house.

Window Box on fiber-cement board house.

 

Coco Fiber lined planter that is a mess.

#1 Reason We Make Gutter Gardens!

Gutter Gardens™ has researched and experimented with various prototypes and found what we believe to be a smart solution for those inquiring about the possible use of window boxes. We use a deeper/wider-than-normal channel of aluminum rain gutter material that is securely attached below the window.

 

What types of surface is necessary for a window box?

Window box on brick house with motar sill

Window box on brick house

The sill…or bottom of an outdoor window can be made of brick, mortar, and various siding materials covering a wood frame.

Window box on bay window aluminum sided house.

Window box on bay window aluminum sided house.

Any of these surfaces is a good candidate for hanging a window box. When ordering, just select the appropriate screws  (tap-cons or stainless steel screws) available for the surface you have to work with.

Historically, window boxes have been made out of wood and over time, the material deteriorates and falls apart. Some  window boxes have a plastic or vinyl planting box inside which prolongs the life of a wooden window box…but since the planter box must have drainage for healthy plants, eventually all wood window boxes will fail.

 

What are the best Window Boxes?

Window box on shed in shade

Window box on shed in shade

Another popular window-box is made of wrought iron with an insert of coco-fiber (see above photo). This method begins well, but because it is so porous, this window box requires very frequent watering.  The fiber lining must be replaced every season….and, because the birds often help themselves to the material for nests, they generally begin to spill their contents around mid-to-end of July. Nothing uglier than a coco-fiber planter that is ignored!

There are some very attractive poly window boxes available on-line now-a-days. Some are treated and will last longer than others because they have been treated to delay the effects of sun UV rays…which will eventually cause the material to become brittle. These are generally 3 or 4 times more expensive than the Gutter Gardens™ Window Boxes  we offer (in 4 different colors)…which are made from recycled aluminum (and can be recycled somewhere down the line) and won’t last as long as a rain gutter planter.

8-Inch Wide Window Boxes Work Best

Because they are non-porous, Gutter Gardens™ require less watering and the filtered drainage holes guarantee healthy, gorgeous flowers! We suggest that you select the 8” wide Window box planters because the larger window boxes give your building a larger, more elegant presence, hold more flowers and need less watering than the 6” wide window-boxes. I, the owner and developer of Gutter Gardens™, LLC started out w/ the 6”wide window boxes for 3 years…but switched over to the 8” wide this season b/c I wanted more of a statement and less maintenance and the 8” require less watering. Both sizes worked well and looked great…but the overhang prevented any rain at all from reaching the plants. The 8-inch wide required less watering for this very busy gardener.

Be sure to order the appropriate hardware for drilling into concrete/mortar (tap-cons) or wood surfaces (stainless steel screws). Your purchase includes enough screws for the length of the planter you purchase.  However, additional hardware items can be purchased from our store and will be shipped with your order.