Window Box Wonder

By Pamela Crawford, Author, Easy Container Gardens
Photographs by Pamela Crawford

This blue ribbon arrangement has everything – it looks great and required nothing but water for its full, seven-month lifespan! Since the container is large and was placed in shade, it only needed water once a week from April until July! I watered twice a week in July and August and then back to once a week from September to November.

Cultural Information

Light: Light to medium shade.

Season: Plant when the temperatures range from 45 degrees to the low 100s. This arrangement tolerates both extremes well.

Lifespan: Six to seven months in this large, 36” window box.

Care: As easy as it gets! Fertilize on planting day with a slow-release mix. Repeat if the leaves look yellowish or washed out. That’s it! No trimming required unless the creeping Jenny hits the ground.

Water: Water thoroughly when plants show signs of wilt, or the soil feels dry when you push your fingertip into the potting mix. I watered this once a week in spring and twice a week in the heat of summer.

Troubleshooting: No problems. This was a wonderful, trouble-free arrangement.

Planting plan: See the “Planting Sequence,” below.

Container: Kinsman’s #CLZW36 window box (36” L x 9” W x 9” deep). Go to www.sideplanting.com to find a list of garden center sources near you. To purchase by phone, call 1-800-733-4146. To purchase online, go to www.kinsmangarden.com.

Hanging the window box: It’s easy! See the video demo at www.sideplanting.com.

Note on heat tolerance: This plant combination is excellent for adapting to temperature extremes. It thrives in temperatures as low as 45 degrees, and up to the low 100s. It breezed through a ten-day run of over 100 degrees, only requiring water twice a week during that record-breaking heat wave.

Plants

Begonia ‘Cherry Blossom’: Nine plants from 3” pots.

Ti plant: One plant from a one-gallon pot.

Coleus ‘Kong Rose’: Two plants from 6” pots.

Creeping Jenny: Nine plants from 3” pots.

Planting sequence

Step 1: Alternate the begonias and creeping Jenny around the side layer.

Step 2: Plant the ti plant in the center, surrounded by the coleus.

Step 3: Repeat step one around the edge. Be sure to put different plants above each other.

This is an excerpt from Pamela Crawford’s book, Easy Container Gardens, available through Amazon and other online booksellers.

Pamela Crawford, author of 12 gardening books, is considered one of the most accomplished container gardening experts in the country. In addition to designing gardens for over 1500 residences, her work has been featured on the cover of Better Homes and Gardens publications as well as in Southern Living, HGTV Magazine, Fine Gardening, Country Gardens, and in over 300 newspapers. As an expert in her field, she has appeared on the Fine Living Network, GardenSMART, gardenloverstv.com and numerous local tv shows.

All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.

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