What to plant in my window boxes

oligeo

I've got three large window boxes under my upstairs window - each box has two troughs in it.

I seem to spend a fortune planting these up in spring and winter.
Is there any way I can plant them up with plants that won't die off??

I'm a bit new to gardening!
Thanks
Sarah

officeguru

Hi Sarah

I would suggest that you plant them up with a couple of box hedging plants or maybe a couple of heathers so that you have one on each side of each trough..... I would then plant a trailing ivy in the middle.... I would then plant colourful bedding plants in between - pansies, surfinias, fuschias or anything that you fancy and, when the bedding plants are finished, I would put spring bulbs in their place.... such as daffodils, etc... or polyanthus....

That way, you have all round plants with the little trees and ivy and you just vary the plants in between... Another cheap plant for filling up the middle, is some minature sweet peas... I usually buy them from homebase... though I haven't been in this year, yet. If you are lucky, you will be able to pick up a 3" pot that is stuffed with minature sweet peas (I think they are called sugar & spice)

I hope this gives you some ideas...

Cheers

tim_n

Alternatively stick in radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and pepper/chili plants! have a veg garden but don't forget to water & feed regularly!

Tumbling tomatoes will probably give best value for money and the peppers work best if the house is south facing!

They won't come back year after year but at least they'll pay their way in food and will warrent being replanted.

Perminantly planted window boxes generally look a bit dull imho

annie123

chives, edible, lovely flowers and comes back every year

ginvzt

Strawberries!!!!

oligeo

Thanks for your suggestions, I have an allotment, so don't need to plant them up with edible plants as I have plenty of space for that.
I like the idea of some box hedges, ivy and seasonal plants, so I'm going to give that a try.

Farway

And stick some bulbs in, like Tete a Tete daffs for a nice spring show