Create a Holiday Window Box

Window boxes will brighten up a home all year, even in the colder climates. So as you decorate for Christmas and the new year – don’t forget the window boxes. Besides giving your windows a fresh look, cleaning out the old box will help keep  mildew, mold and insects from overwintering in stale soil.

First remove any old dirt and add it to a compost pile or garbage can to recycle for next year’s soil mixes. Clean the window box with soapy water and let dry. If you feel it needs a new paint job, this is the time to do so.

Depending on your climate your window box may be indoors or out. Mine will be indoors.

P Start by putting a potted rosemary plant in the center of the window box. Note: You may need to use floral foam to adjust the height of any of the plants. You want the potted plants you are adding to set one inch below the window box edge.

Next place a potted ivy plant halfway between the rosemary pot and the end of the window box. Place another ivy plant on the opposite side of the window box. Adjust the ivy so that it “drapes” down the front of the window box.

Pack floral foam tightly around and between the potted plants until the window box is full to within 1 inch of the top of the box.

Push evergreen cuttings that you have gathered from your yard or trimmed off your Christmas tree down into the floral foam. Cover the foam around the potted plants. You may want to treat the evergreen cuttings with anti-desiccant before using. This will keep the pine fresher and make them last longer.

Push some of the cuttings in perpendicular to the surface of the foam. You are trying to fill the box but so in a natural look that is pleasing to the eye. Remember that they should not be as tall as the rosemary plant.

Push some of the cuttings in at an angle so that they will overhang the front of the window box and adjust the ivy vines so that they’re on top of the evergreens.

If you want to add Christmas decorations to the window box attach the decorations to floral stick and add them to the box until you have a pleasing arrangement. When you are pleased with the look push the picks firmly into the foam. An arrangement such as this usually looks best if it is balanced on both sides.

Tips:

1. You may want to add outdoor Christmas lights to your window box for more sparkle.
2. A bow will add a more festive look
3. If December’s weather is below freezing you may want to substitute a small, artificial Christmas tree for the rosemary topiary and use artificial ivy.

I keep my window boxes indoors in a window. They still add color to the outdoors and indoors as well. In my cold season window boxes do better indoors or on a patio.