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Planter boxes are a fun and easy way to create a mini mobile garden. Whether you've opted for flowers, creepers, leafy foliage, or whatever plant of your choosing, know what to do from start to finish. Before you even set foot in a nursery, having a plan of action will ensure the best results possible, and a beautiful bounty in your planter boxes.
Plan ahead
Count out how many planter boxes you're using and consider space factors before settling on a specific number of plants. Remember that some plants require more room than others, have longer reaching roots, or will eventually creep or hang over the side of the box. Sunlight is another key issue to take into account. Plants and flowers are usually divided into three basic categories as far as the amount of sunlight they need: direct sunlight, partial sunlight, and shade. In addition to planning out where each box will sit with this mind, also be careful not to plant a shade seeking plant with a sunlight seeking plant. When choosing plants, and especially flowers, keep in mind different color and pattern combinations. Often times, a pairing of a few different flowers and a green leafy plant like a grass or a fern can make a lovely combination.
At Home
After you've chosen and bought your desired plants, have all the materials you'll need at the ready so you don't have to stop midway through the process. The basic tools you will likely use include gloves, trowels and claws for digging, potting soil and either a hose or watering can. Start by filling planter boxes halfway with potting soil. If you have any sort of separate Miracle-Gro or other fertilizer, add some as well. Next, gently remove the plants along with the soil they come with and place them equidistant in the box from one another. Be careful to break as few of the roots as possible. Lightly pulling the roots around the bottom of the plant will more easily help it adjust to its new environment. When all of the plants are in, fill in potting to the edge of the box, while holding plants upright and firmly pressing down. Continue these steps until all of your planter boxes are full. When you're done, lightly water plants, being careful not to over-water or damage the fragile sprouts. Depending on the temperature, amount of sunlight and weather conditions, keep up with watering plants on a regular basis. You will be able to tell by touch the soil's moisture content and by looking at the plant itself whether it needs to be watered. A classic mistake, though, is over-watering which can easily kill a plant. When the next growing season rolls around, the process starts afresh, until you've opted to plant annuals.
DIY
Because of their simple shape, a lot of people build their own planter boxes. Most store-bought planters come with a basic drainage system and/or brackets for attaching boxes to window sills, but the basic idea is the same for any kind. Use a sturdy wood such as cedar or cypress and make sure the bottoms of planter boxes are strong enough to hold as much soil as you'll be putting in it. Also, make sure there are no cracks in the side that would allow soil to slip out. Other than that, have at it. Planter boxes are a fun summer project, and the fruits of your labor will be sweet.
If planting is your thing, but you have run out of room to do it in your outdoor space, then you're probably feeling a little disappointed. However, there is a really easy to way to satisfy that green thumb of yours, all you have to do is purchase some lovely planter boxes. They provide you with that extra planting space, plus are nice decorative accents.
With planter boxes, you can basically plant anything that you want in them since they come in a variety of shapes, styles, and sizes. For example, maybe you just want to plant some smaller flowers, like perennials, then you could go with one that is smaller in size that has a round shape. These would be perfect for placing in the dead spots throughout your outdoor space, like in the corner of your deck or next to a patio door or something. Or, maybe you want to plant some herbs, yet don't have any room in your garden to do it. A wonderful option for you then would be some mid-sized planters, like ones that have a rectangular shape and are about three to four feet long and two to three feet wide. You could plant all your herbs in them and can even put them right up against your house so you don't have to walk for when a recipe calls for some.
Basically, with planter boxes there are just a lot of options. Some of the others available include ones that have a vase shape, ones that are designed to be placed right on your window sill, and some that are v-shaped that are perfect for planting smaller shrubs along with partitioning off different spaces in your backyard. For example, maybe you want your patio to be separate from your lawn, well, just put the v-shaped ones at the corners or your patio and then there you have it, a partitioned off space.
In addition to letting you plant as much as you want, planter boxes are also extremely appealing to the eye and can really add to the overall look and feel of your outdoor space. What makes them so stunning is the fact that they are crafted out of a variety of materials that have a fabulous appearance. Like, you can get ones made out of Redwood that feature a gorgeous cinnamon red tone. Or, you can get others that are made from Teak wood that has a fantastic natural golden tone when new that weathers to a beautiful, distinguished silver gray color over time. Along with these two wood options, there are other materials that are also very pleasing to the eye including those made from stone along with plastic infused with color. To check out the different options, just hit the Internet for some online shopping. Breezing through all the choices is easy and when you come across something you like, it is generally at the best prices possible.
So, if you like to plant and have run out of room, turn to lovely planter boxes to give you more planting space. There are a slew of options available, all of which are sure to please.