DIY Network

Building and Planting a Window Box Building and Planting a Window Box From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-209

You can have a garden even if all you have is a window! After giving tips on keeping a container vegetable garden healthy and productive, Joe builds a classic-looking window box and plants it with herbs (figure A). The wooden window box is designed to work with plastic liners (figure B), which can be slipped in and out of the box and interchanged easily.

Figure A

Figure B

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Begin by measuring the window opening (figure C). A window box should be the same width as the window or an inch or two wider. For a 44" window, make a box 46" wide.

For a 46" window box, you'll need two 22" plastic liners that will fit inside the box and leave an inch or two of wiggle room (figure D). Liners can be found at most garden centers.

Figure C

Figure D

Because the window boxes will be outside in the rain and will get wet when you water the plants, be sure to choose a wood that is rot resistant. Be sure to protect your eyes with safety glasses whenever you're cutting lumber with power tools.

1. Cut out all the pieces: From two 1x8s, cut out the bottom, the two long sides, the two short ends and a support bracket. From a 1x4, cut two tops and two backs for the support brackets.

2. With the pieces cut, rout the top edges to give them a nice finish (figure E).

3. Drill four 1/2" drainage holes along the length of the bottom piece of lumber (figure F).

4. Fasten the pieces together with screws.

Note: By predrilling the holes before you sink the screws (figure G), you can avoid splitting the wood.

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

5. You can finish the box any way you want. One idea is to paint this box to match the house trim, but you may prefer to paint it to match your house's shutter color or to provide a colorful accent to your home. For a rustic look, leave the wood unpainted.

6. To attach the window box to the house, use the support brackets you cut out of the 1x4s (figure H). Position the box so that it will fit right under the window's molding (figure I). Make sure the two supports are level with one another, and screw them to the wall with galvanized screws.

7. Once the brackets are in place, place the window box on top of them and attach it to the house with more screws running through the back panel (figure J).

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

Planting

For a window box that will get plenty of sun, plant with an assortment of sun-loving herbs. You can plant the liners first, then drop them into the window box.

1. Punch out the predrilled drainage holes in the liners and add a lightweight potting soil.

2. Add the herbs, placing taller-growing plants such as Greek oregano, chives and basil in the back and lower-growing thyme and trailing rosemary in the front (figure K).

3. Put mulch around the base of the plants to help conserve water (figure L).

Figure K

Figure L

The liners drop into the window box and can be lifted out when it's time to replant. This makes maintenance much easier than if the herbs were planted directly in the box. All that's left to do is to water regularly and enjoy the harvest of herbs.