Permanent Planting in Window Boxes

A good collection of herbs for a window box.

Owing to the fact that window boxes have so little room for compost, it is difficult to maintain good growing conditions for permanent plantings. Plants like ivies, conifers and heathers will do well for a while, but not really well for a few years in the same container.

It is far better to plant the window box up just once each year – maybe twice if you want a good deal of colour throughout the year.

Even by having one conifer in a box long term, you can run into problems, for the root system will soon take over all available space. This will make it almost impossible to add extra plants throughout the year.

It is a far better idea to use small shrub-like plants, which can then be moved to a more suitable position in the garden after several months. The winter months can be quite colourful if you use winter flowering heathers, Aucubas, ivies, winter cherries, winter flowering pansies, primroses and the like – under-planted with miniature narcissi (daffodils) for the burst of colour in the early spring.

Change the compost in the spring, and look out for the larvae of the vine weevil beetle – especially if some of the plants seem a bit lifeless!

One group of plants that can do well as permanent planting in window boxes, are herbs. Make sure that you use a few evergreen types like the Thymes and ornamental sages!