Trips to the garden center can sometimes be overwhelming: with so many plants to choose from, how do you decide what's right for you? For first-time gardeners in particular, annuals make a great, easy choice for adding color since they're practically foolproof: they grow, bloom and die in a single growing season. Though annuals do have to be replaced once they're spent, they provide a nice opportunity to change out plants and experiment with a variety of great looks. Still not sure where to start? Check out these popular varieties: - red nasturtiums (figure A)
- pansies (figure B)
- white petunias (figure C)
But what if you don't have a yard or garden where you can grow your favorite flowering sensations or leafy beauties? The answer is simple: a window box (figure D). While Europeans are devoted window box enthusiasts, many Americans have yet to discover just how easy it is to create and maintain these charming planters. Simply follow these three easy guidelines: - First, select a window box with generous dimensions (figure E) to comfortably accommodate your plants: this is one instance where size matters! A bigger container means more roots, soil and leaves... and leaves and roots and soil mean more flowers.
- Next, be sure your window box is securely bolted to the supporting wall. Remember: the weight of soil and plants will be substantial, so the construction and support must be strong enough to hold more than the weight of the planter.
- Finally, fill the box with premium, high-quality soil to ensure the plants will thrive.
And that's it -- you're ready to plant. For this full-sun location, Schneider begins with vareigated ivy (Hedera helix 'Glacier'), which trails over the sides of the box and gives the box a light, shimmery touch. Next he adds a dash of red with Calibrachoa 'Superbells Red', which he places near the front edge of the planter, allowing it to trail slightly over the rim and mix with the ivy. (Bonus: This easy-care variety, a relative of the petunia, is a great lure for hummingbirds.) For small bursts of bright color, Schneider adds yellow Osteospermum 'Symphony Lemon', an African daisy. While most African daisies don't bloom during the summer, the 'Symphony' series is the exception: its cheerful blooms stay strong through August and beyond. Finally, Schneider uses Verbena 'Superbena Blue-Purple' to pick up the violet color of the daisy centers, creating what is known as a "color echo." This plant, great for hot, sunny areas, is placed along the back of the planter will soon grow to healthy proportions that easily fill out this portion of the window box. With the verbena in place, this gorgeous "garden in a window" (figure F) is complete!
RESOURCES :
Easy Care Shade Flowers
Model: 0671755676
Author: Patricia A. Taylor
February 1993
A Time for Flowers
Model: 0935284265
Author: Dale Rohman
This title is currently out of print. Consult local libraries, used bookstores and book searches to find copies.
Window Boxes
Model: Carol Spier
Author: 1567992692
(1996)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
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