Gardening Wonderful Window Boxes by Pippa Greenwood As late summer fades imperceptibly into early autumn, it can be sad to see much-loved and once fantastic-looking beds, borders, pots and planters start to look a little worse for wear. It may be all part of the natural part of gardening, but it certainly makes me feel a bit gloomy. If it is having the same effect on you, why not treat yourself to some late summer and early autumn colour in a pot, planter or, better still, a window box? That protected spot close to the house should help to ensure that everything keeps on and on performing for as long as possible… There are many different sizes and styles to choose from, from woven willow to classic hardwood and urban chic aluminium, and in just about every conceivable colour too. But whatever you go for make sure it’ll fit easily on to the window sill and won’t be too heavy! Take time to choose one that will suit the style of your house, fit all the plants you’d like to include, not weigh too much and is within budget. There are lots of plants that’ll work – some of my favourites are hardy Gerberas (these do need a good warm, sunny spot), variegated ivies and the wacky, compact Crassula with fleshy foliage and stems studded with dusky pink flowers. But take time perusing the local garden centres or nurseries for the combination that makes YOUR heart sing. Some window boxes have impermeable liners, so if this is the case add an inch or so of horticultural grit or gravel to provide drainage – then if you do overwater (or it rains too much) the excess water will be less likely to sit around the roots and cause the plants to suffer or even die off completely. If you’re trying to keep weight to a minimum then use broken up polystyrene from bedding plants or the packaging around household appliances – this lightweight recycled material is a good alternative to the grit or gravel. A good quality multi-purpose compost is perfect for a temporary planting like this, but if you intend to remove any shorter lived or non-hardy plants such as the gerberas and replace them with other hardy, seasonal stunners later in the year then you may be better off using a 50:50 mixture of a loam-based compost and a multi-purpose one. I find that this 50:50 mix allows for better stability from the weight and texture of the loam, combined with better aeration and drainage from the multipurpose compost. Just fill the window box about half full with compost, gently firming it, but make sure you don’t compact it or else the plants won’t get their roots down so well. Next it’s the fun and inventive bit as you get the plants into position. If you are including trailing plants like variegated ivies, place them where you can enjoy their full glory by cascading them over the edges of the window box – this looks fantastic and adds to the apparent size of the display without adding significantly to the weight of the container. A larger plant like the Crassula gives a good focal point, and then why not add some dizzy colour like the ever-smiling gerberas to flank the central plant? Gently move the plants about until you’re happy with how they look, then fill in gaps between the root balls with more compost, firming gently with your fingers to ensure there’s no subsidence later on. Once you’re totally happy, water the box well using a watering can with the rose in place, so imitating rainfall. A stunning window box along these lines can be created in well under half an hour. Make sure it is secured properly on the window sill – and remember that you’ll need to be able to open the window (or access the box from outside) in order to keep it adequately watered during drier weather. As well as regular watering (often all the more necessary due to the ‘rain shadow’ effect from the roof or eaves), the window box will benefit from occasional feeding with high-potash feed and of course will need to be regularly dead-headed! Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! Or why not book Pippa for a gardening talk? 44 Log into www.cr5.co.uk your local community website!
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