[jnieman]

I had beautiful window boxes on our house in Ohio. We have two windows here at our house that would look beautiful with some. Has anyone done this? How did you go about it? I read on line that it said to use cedar wood but I was wondering if there is anything lighter that you have used or possibly a contractor who does this. I think it would make our Wisteria look so great. Any suggestions?

[Sandtrap328]

First point would be to verify with Architecture Review Board to make sure window boxes are permitted.

You would hate to go to the trouble and expense only to have some busybody complain (and some would!) so you would have to remove them if not previously permitted.

[gomoho]

If you get approval from ARC I would definitely go with the self watering boxes or you will be out there watering at least once, maybe twice a day I agree window boxes would be a beautiful addition to any Village home.

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by gomoho

If you get approval from ARC I would definitely go with the self watering boxes or you will be out there watering at least once, maybe twice a day I agree window boxes would be a beautiful addition to any Village home.

I could change your mind by showing you some plastic ones down the street. They are full of sun faded blue and yellow plastic flowers.

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by TheVillageChicken

I could change your mind by showing you some plastic ones down the street. They are full of sun faded blue and yellow plastic flowers.

My hubby is a gardener. He spends hours each day in the yard gardening. We had window boxes at our last house and they looked beautiful with all of the ivy and hanging flowers. I would only put in Cedar boxes or something similar that matches the house, never plastic flowers.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by jnieman

I had beautiful window boxes on our house in Ohio. We have two windows here at our house that would look beautiful with some. Has anyone done this? How did you go about it? I read on line that it said to use cedar wood but I was wondering if there is anything lighter that you have used or possibly a contractor who does this. I think it would make our Wisteria look so great. Any suggestions?

Try not to block the view from the street with too many pink flamingoes.

[fred53]

Originally Posted by Sandtrap328

First point would be to verify with Architecture Review Board to make sure window boxes are permitted.

You would hate to go to the trouble and expense only to have some busybody complain (and some would!) so you would have to remove them if not previously permitted.

who moves into an area knowing there are restrictions, but is always complaining about those that want them enforced...and then goes about calling them names because...oh my...someone moved here because of the restrictions...gasp...the horror of it all...

thank goodness for busybodies...otherwise we'd be knee deep in the retro junk yard look...

[Laurie2]

Originally Posted by jnieman

My hubby is a gardener. He spends hours each day in the yard gardening. We had window boxes at our last house and they looked beautiful with all of the ivy and hanging flowers. I would only put in Cedar boxes or something similar that matches the house, never plastic flowers.

You might find some ideas for different kinds of window boxes on Amazon.

Also, have a look at Gardener's Supply in Burlington, VT. I have ordered things from them.

It takes a committed gardener to keep up with window boxes -- what with all that pinching and feeding and watering and probably seasonal change-outs. But it sounds like you already know that.

I can't recall seeing any window boxes in TV, but that does not mean they are not there somewhere or that they are not allowed. (Better check though.) It could mean just that they can be a lot of work, especially in the heat of summer. I thought about putting them on our house in Ohio but decided there were too many windows across the front and I would have had to work too hard to keep them looking their best. -- I can be a bit persnickety about gardening so I decided to acknowledge my limitations and just put a pot on the porch.

I think beautifully designed and maintained window boxes are a wonderful addition to a home. And I love a design formula of 3 different kinds of plants: Thriller. Filler. Spiller.

Happy Gardening.

[Yung Dum]

Why would anyone complain about window boxes with real flowers? But they will.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by Yung Dum

Why would anyone complain about window boxes with real flowers? But they will.

There are always those who feel there is something to complain about so they feel much better about themselves believing they are still usefull to someone.

[Bogie Shooter]

Do a Google search on PVC window boxes.
We had one on a window in the back of our first village house.
Probably should have but didn't ask as we backed up to a retention pond.

[jnieman]

Thanks for all of the ideas. I will definitely check with ARC first. Pru, thanks for the idea of self-watering. We will look into that. I found lots of beautiful ones on the internet made of cedar which will look great. It seems like I've seen window boxes on some of the homes down in Lake Sumter Landing.
Some of you seem worried that they will look distasteful. We do not plan to put in anything with pink flamingos or plastic flowers or plastic boxes so relax. Maybe once they are finished, I'll post a photo.

[Ecuadog]

My wife, bless her, thinks that she can put plants in pots by our front door and leave them alone. Our witty neighbor said yesterday that it looks like a plant cemetery.

[Laurie2]

Originally Posted by Ecuadog

My wife, bless her, thinks that she can put plants in pots by our front door and leave them alone. Our witty neighbor said yesterday that it looks like a plant cemetery.

Oh, noooooo, Ecuadog, maybe help Mrs. Ecuadog by getting a little sprinkling can and some Miracle-Gro in the single packs. (Those are great because you can just snip the end and mix in the right proportions. The big Miracle-Gro or the hose attachments do not work for me because I am a klutz and always get that blue stuff all over me and end up looking like a Smurf.)

You can help more by making sure there are holes in the bottom of those pots. A few rocks in the bottom will help with drainage, too.

But please do not give her those things as a present. While it is a very good thing to pinch the heads off flowers after a time, you do not want to get your own head pinched off.

[mtdjed]

Our Gardenia Style home in Caroline had two window boxes installed as it was built. They are plastic wood 1/2" thick, with an exposed wood grain, painted white as is the trim. They are on the front of the house facing north and only one gets a bit of morning sun. Limits what can be grown. Watering is not a daily need.