Year round window boxes

Once the frost hits, much of the season’s landscape is dreary, cold and drab. Garden pots and window boxes sit lifeless and empty while summer gardens become faded, frigid memories. You can escape the off-season blues by injecting excitement into your home’s fall and winter landscape with a seasonal window box. It’ll do wonders for your soul, and your curb appeal!

No matter the season, when it comes to window boxes the design strategies are the same. Balance, contrasts of color, texture, height and shape. A foolproof formula for an eye-catching window box? Tall items in back, medium and rounded in the center and short and trailing in front.

There are two main approaches to the winter window box: live plants and natural elements or artificial ingredients. Why not blend the two? Check out garden centers for tiny boxwood, dwarf evergreens, myrtle and ivy for the back bone of a year round window box. Almost any small evergreen, or combination of several, will work. Green all winter, they add contrast to spring and summer flowers, too. The challenge is keeping them watered and protected throughout the long cold winter. You’ve got to water live plants all winter, otherwise they could “wake up” on a warm sunny day and start “breathing” by which they lose water. If there isn’t any water in the soil, they can die. Check their moisture once a week, and water when necessary.

You can also “plant” your box with natural items. Wander through your yard and snip branches from evergreens such as pine, yew, juniper, holly, and southern magnolia. Red bark dogwood branches add a jolt of color and a nice twiggy contrast. Keep in mind the basic design plan (tall items in back, medium/ rounded in the center and short/trailing in the front ) and arrange your clippings artfully for the greatest impact. Use wreaths made from evergreen, pine cones, nuts and berries to echo your window box -and do wonders for a winter weary front door. Glam it up by misting on a bit of gold or silver spray paint for a gilded look. You can embellish your winter display with ribbon, ornaments and mini twinkle lights. Wire on treats for the birds to bring wild life to your windowsill.

If live window boxes worry you, artificial evergreen boughs that can be found at any craft store. You can find them with “snow”, pinecones, berries and more.” Home stores, garden centers and craft shops offer an array of tiny fake trees that add holiday charm to window boxes and planters. Toss in some artificial poinsettias or holly sprigs for color. Or try something as simple as a mound colorful Christmas balls or pinecones for stunning impact. Whether live, natural or artificial, it’s easy to create a dynamic display, even in winter, if you plan your color scheme and “theme” to blend with and enhance your home.