UNUSUAL PLANTERS

I stumbled across these great planting displays on my Sunday morning ramble. It just goes to prove that you can plant almost anything.

I love this milk churn - doesn't it look romantic...

autumn window box planting plan

The new autumn planting plan for your windowbox has just been released at Garden Boutique.

Each season, a new window box planting plan is designed for customers by leading UK garden designer Alice Bowe

This planting plan comes free with every window box purchase - and with both traditional and adventurous planting suggestions on every planting plan, it's a great idea for an original birthday gift

GALVANIZED ZINC WINDOW BOX - GREAT VALUE

Galvanized zinc window boxes are a garden classic - and these gorgeous versions with their chunky lip are great value.

Available as a 40cm Galvanized Zinc window box or a 60cm Galvanized Zinc window box

BEST PLANTS FOR WINDOW BOXES

When planting a windowbox, choosing plants to match your exposure is the key to success.

If you choose shade loving plants for a window box on a south or west-facing wall, the foliage will get scorched in the high light levels; and plants that thrive in full sun will grow tall and leggy in a northern exposure.

SHADE LOVING PLANTS FOR A NORTH FACING WINDOW BOX

If you are planting a shady windowbox, try:

Hellebores - I particularly like H. orientalis 'Ballards Hybrids' but there are some lovely ones to choose from

Hosta - try mixing a few different sized hostas in the same planting for a lush effect

Fern's such as Polystichum Aculeatum (Hardy Shield Fern) and Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern) or even Asparagus falcatus (Asparagus Fern}

Shade loving herbs such as Parsley, Chive and Mint

Pansy - classic window box plant

Ivy - great for evergreen structure throughout the year

Fuschia - Elegant in hot pink or white

Hydrangea - looks great with ferns if you can get them small

PLANTS FOR A SOUTH OR WEST FACING WINDOWBOX

If you are planting a sunny windowbox, try:

Lavender - classic when planted on it's own

Salvia - long flowering

Nasturtium - great for trailing over the side of your window box, and edible flowers too!

Sun loving herbs such as Basil, Oregano and Thyme

Strawberries - I particularly like to combine alpine strawberries with erigeron karviscianus

Verbena - another great long flowering essential

DESIGNER WINDOWBOXES - 12 WAYS WITH A ZINC WINDOW BOX

Back in 2003, a dozen members of the gardening elite were asked to each design a windowbox to raise money for charity at The Daily Telegraph House and Garden Fair. They were each given a zinc window box to style.

These mini show gardens range from the edible window box:

Roy Strong's zinc window box shown above - inspired by Beatrice Potter and Mr McGregor!

To the low maintenance window box:


This sumptuous planting was created by top garden designer Arabella Lennox Boyd and features pelargonium 'Lord Bute' and Helichrysum petiolare 'Silver' for summer long interest

To a miniature version of Versaille in a windowbox - created by Paul Cooper and Bonita Bulaitis

Find out more, and see the other windowbox creations in the Telegraph article of 2003

Buy your very own aged zinc window box from Garden Boutique and send us your designs!

WINDOW BOXES AND FLOWERING BALCONIES

Italians seriously win at flowering balconies and window boxes...

I came across this great group on Flickr - and there are some really inspirational pictures...


I'm off to Rome in October - and can't wait to discover new ideas to share

It really does go to prove that it's as much about the window as the planting!!!

WINDOW BOX POSTER

Window boxes are becoming so popular, they are now available as a poster!

But for those of you who are still keen to enjoy the real thing, you can recreate this look with ease.

Simply combine purple petunias, argyranthemum (I like 'Vancouver' or 'Petite Pink' , Lobelia (e.g. Royal Jewels) and the pale silvery foliage of the licquorice plant, Helichrysum petiolare in a white terrazzo planter...

I love the combination of silver, purple and green in a window box. It always looks beautiful.

Alternatively, you may prefer a pink colour scheme

You can recreate this look with lobelia and petunias. The key is to use several different petunias such as 'Pink Lady', Blue Daddy, and Picotee

But I must admit, I'm tempted to throw a double into the mix - such as this stunning Petunia 'Purple Pirouette'


(also available from Thompson and Morgan)

BRITISH RACING GREEN

It has been said that anything can be used as a planter.... and Hanging Gardens Nursery in Essex certainly proved that with their contribution to this years Hampton Court Palace Garden Show

TAKEAWAY WINDOW BOX PLANTING PLANS FROM CHELSEA

Fancy re-creating your favourite Chelsea garden in your own plot? The BBC has commissioned these great 'takeaway' planting schemes for borders and window boxes, so that you can do exactly that.


My favourites include the saturated colours of the QVC scheme from top designer Sarah Price and the pastel tones of Angus Thompson's windowbox for the Children's Society (shown above)

WINDOW BOX PLANTING IDEAS

Great ideas for windowbox plantings in this article from the Saturday Times - with stunning illustrations from Hannah McVicar.

This scheme includes whispy tufts of carex and the delicately veined foliage of Heuchera ‘Pewter Moon’ plus deep-indigo petunias, trailing verbena and succulent sempervivum.