5. FILL YOUR PLANTER
This is where you finally get to put all of those pretty plants you're dying to show off into your window box and create an actual window garden!First of all, make sure that you have all of the proper tools for planting and ultimately caring for the garden:
- A watering can
- A small cultivator (a kitchen fork will do… just don't use it again)
- A small knife or sharp scissors for pruning
- A small trowel (if transplanting will occur)
- A mister (as in "that which sprays mist," not "that which is not a Mrs.").
Buy your plants
Treat buying your plants like you would finding a date: shop around. In fact, carry that metaphor a little further and look for the same traits in your plants that you would in a mate:
- Good roots (to determine this, examine the plant's bottom thoroughly-don't worry, you won't get slapped)
- Well-formed limbs… we mean, foliage
- Vigorous growth
- The absence of diseases or pests
If your window box is deep enough, you can actually place your purchased plants, pot and all, into the window box and not worry about soil. This allows you to remove plants that have passed their prime and replace them quickly without a lot of needless work. When the plants grow enough, they'll cover the pots.
If you're more of a hard-core gardener, you can use old-fashioned soil. This method is more time-intensive, since each replanting will involve digging out old plants and transplanting new ones, taking care not to damage the root systems or limbs. For best results, use store-bought soils, since they're made for the activity.
If you are actually transplanting rather than placing pots into your window box, here are some good tips:
- Transplant as soon as possible after purchasing to prevent excessive stress to the plants' systems.
- Using your trowel, transplant on a moderately cool day or during the cool early morning or late evening hours when heat is less likely to shock or kill your plants.
- Water your plants immediately. This eases the plants' transition.
