Window Box for Bulbs | Build a Bulb Planter Box: Gardening

Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

Window boxes add to the garden in many ways. For starters, they provide vertical color, beauty and interest, often high above landscape shrubs. But perhaps most importantly, they easily – and affordably – enhance your home’s curb appeal.

This diagram illustrates the simple window box construction.

Window box planters are easy to build and install. This box features insert containers, allowing you to plant progressions of different bulbs. Grow each to blooming stage and set them in the window box to provide constant, changing blooms. Just gather the necessary materials, then take the simple building steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions.

Materials

From 2x2 (38x38 mm) dimensioned lumber:
2	59-1/16 inch (150 cm)	Back rails
2	59-1/16 inch (150 cm)	Front rails (see step 1)
2	9½ inch (24.1 cm)	Top crossbars
13	7¼ inch (18.4 cm)	Bottom cross bars
From 15/32 inch (12 mm) ACX plywood:
1	10x60 inch (25.4x152.4 cm	Front pannel
1	9⅝x59-1/16 inch (25.4x150 cm)	Back panel
2	10-15x32x9⅝x12-15/32x10 inch (26.6x24.4x32.9x25.4 cm)	End panels (see step 2)
Other components:
1	48 inch (122 cm) 1x4 inch (19x89 mm)	Ledger
30	No 8x3 inch (No 8x75 mm)	Deck screws
50	4dx1¾ inch (4dx45 mm)	Galvanized finish nails
4	No 8x1¾ inch (No 8x20 mm)	Lag screws
1	Quart (1 liter) exterior primer and paint

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 1

Cut components. Cut frame and ledger pieces. Rip or plane a diagonal bevel on one face of each of the two front rails, 3⁄8 an inch deep. Cut the front and back panels using a circular saw mounted with a plywood blade and scoring each cut with a utility knife to avoid face splits.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 2

Cut end panels. Score and cut plywood to 9 5⁄8 x 23 15⁄32 inches. Mark points on its top and bottom edges, 10 15⁄32 inches from the two opposite diagonal corners, joining the two points with a line. Mark, score and cut the line to make two end panels.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 3

Build bottom frame. On a layout table, set front and back rails parallel, with the front rail bevel facing outside. Mark points from the center point of each rail, 4 inches on center from the center point of each rail. Clamp, mark and drill 1⁄16-inch holes, and fasten each bottom crossbar into place with a deck screw.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 4

Build the top frame. On a layout table, set front and back rails parallel, with the front rail bevel facing outside. Flush a top crossbar with each rail end and clamp. Mark and drill 1⁄16-inch holes, then fasten with deck screws.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 5

Attach back panel to the frame. Stand top and bottom frames on their front rails. Square and clamp the back panel flush with each rail end. Fasten the panel with finish nails spaced 4 in. (10 cm) on center.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 6

Attach side panels. Square and clamp each side panel so it is flush with the beveled rail ends and with the back panel. Fasten with finish nails spaced 4 inches on center.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 7

Attach the front panel. Square and clamp it so it’s flush with the beveled rail ends. Fasten with finish nails spaced 4 inches on center.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 8

Attach ledger. Use an electronic stud finder to mark the position of each casing stud under the window frame. Prime and paint the ledge, then position it under the window sill, drill and fasten it to the studs with four deck screws.

Window Box Bulb Planter - Step 9

Install your window box. Mark four points along the box’s top back rail, 1 foot on center. Drill 1⁄16-inch holes through the panel and rail. Add a decorative trim if desired, prime and paint. Level and fasten the box to the ledger with deck screws.

Tips

When one group of flowers fade, replace their container with another type of later-blooming bulb. This will keep your display fresh and beautiful long into the gardening season.
Measure the window opening width to determine the exact height and length of the completed window box, and purchase containers to fit within its space. If the height of a container is too low, raise it using either a brick or other non-rusting riser until all the containers are at the desired level.

Faqs

Q: Should I mix other filler in with my bulbs?
A: You can if you’d like. To give a finished look to your planted bulb display, include some draping or shorter filler plants like sweet alyssum, Nemesia fruticans, forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) or viola, or try a taller, lacy filler like baby’s-breath (Gypsophila paniculata). Another option is to cover each container with a blanket of sphagnum moss.

Next Steps

Garden in a Box: Affordable Curb Appeal
Curb appeal and gardening go hand in hand, but there’s no need to spend a fortune. Planting a window box is an easy and affordable way to boost curb appeal. Lean the simple steps to planting flowers in a box (and thus, more money in your wallet).
Design by Function: Window Box
It’s a small gardening space with big impact! A window box garden brings added charm to a home’s appearance and is easy to create. Even better: It can help boost curb appeal without bursting your budget. We’ll give you the design, you pick the plants!
Autumn: Boxed In (A Seasonal Window Box)
There’s nothing like crisp autumn temps to kill off what was left of a once-beautiful window box planting. But that doesn’t have to mean the end of your outdoor decor. Redo your window planter using harvested materials from your garden and create some fall-themed curb appeal.

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Building a Window Box Bulb Planter