A window box is the smallest garden there is, and one of the most rewarding. Even a flat with no outdoor space at all can have a cheerful row of flowers brightening the view, both from the street and from inside.
Start with drainage
The commonest reason a window box fails is waterlogging. Make sure there are holes in the base, add a layer of broken crocks or gravel, and fill with a good peat-free multipurpose compost rather than garden soil, which packs down hard.
Choosing the plants
For spring, the bulbs and bedding in the garden centre give weeks of colour. Aim for a mix of heights and a long season.
- Primroses and violas for instant, reliable colour.
- Dwarf daffodils and grape hyacinths for the bulbs.
- A little trailing ivy to soften the front edge.
Plant it generously
A window box wants to look full from the start, so pack the plants in more tightly than you would in a border. Set the taller things at the back, the trailers at the front, and firm them all in with fresh compost worked between the rootballs.
Keep it going
Containers dry out fast, especially under the eaves where the rain cannot reach, so check the compost most days and water before it dries right out. Pinch off the dead flowers regularly and a spring window box keeps performing for many weeks.