Necessity may be the mother of invention, but sometimes an invention becomes the mother of another invention. This is the case with my DIY window boxes. After eyeballing high-quality windowboxes for quite some time, I decided I want hefty deep boxes to last for a lifetime. I came across quite a few options but shudder at the thought of dishing out $200 or more dollars each for quality boxes.
Thinking Like Macguyver
If you haven’t read my blog post “Make the Things You Want,” you may find my upcoming suggestions a bit surprising. You see, I encourage you to think outside the box. This blog is all about creating the things you WANT using the things you HAVE. That may mean turning an old ceiling fan into a wine rack or a piece of scrap wood into a shabby-chic/farmhouse-style wall-mounted coat rack. Using this improvisational state of mind I brainstorm ideas. In this case, I asked myself, “What items are already sturdy and shaped in the correct way to serve as DIY window boxes?”
Look for Ducks and You May Find a Window Box
I especially enjoy this outside of the (window) box thinking when I come across something totally unconventional that costs a lot less than the actual item. So, what better place to begin than a trip to see the farm fowl at our local farm supply store. I began by asking if they carry windowboxes. After being told they do not have them, I followed my ears to the various peeps, clucks, and quacks coming from around the corner. Hanging above hundreds of tiny yellow, black, and speckled fluff balls were livestock feeding troughs filled with farm animal care literature. I stopped dead in my tracks and told my daughter that these can be window boxes. She smiled….they’re used to my crazy ideas.
Making Sure the Box Fits
I grabbed a measuring tape from the hardware department and began measuring the troughs. At forty-eight inches wide, nine inches tall, and 13 inches deep, they were absolutely perfect for my needs. They are constructed of super-tough, impact-resistant, high-density polyethylene material plus it’s reinforced with fiberglass for extra durability. This makes it warp, crack, and UV resistant. It sounds like a lifetime windowbox to me! I am very happy with the depth as it accommodates deeper root growth. This thing was invented to hang over fences and hold 13 gallons of food for horses and other livestock. It is tough stuff! The best part is it is around $40. Seeing they were used as displays, and a bit scratched up, I received an additional 10% off…It never hurts to ask!
Customizing My Feeding Trough DIY Window Boxes
The trough is a great classic black color. I decided to paint it oiled bronze to match my front door and shutters. I can hear your thoughts. “You are going to paint plastic?” I answer with a confident and resounding yes. I used a multipurpose metallic spraypaint on my wooden front door around 2 years ago. It still looks brand new. I used the same paint on my previously burgundy shutters around 1 year ago. They too have held up through sweltering heat, hail storms, monsoon rain, and blizzard conditions without so much as a scratch. My window boxes will now join the ship as part of the painted crew. If you are hesitant to paint plastic, keep in mind you can always plant trailing flowers or hanging vines. Chances are you will rarely see much of the exposed box after everything fills in.
Window Box Drainage
One easily solved potential problem is feeding troughs do not come with drainage. I understand it is very important to have some level of drainage in all gardening containers. Otherwise, your plants keep wet feet and may rot away at the roots. To remedy the issue, I take a 3/16 drill bit and drill 12 drainage holes in the bottom of the box.
Attaching the Windowbox to the House
I considered mounting the windowbox a couple of different ways. You have to keep in mind that a window box filled with soil, plants, and water can get pretty heavy. Considering my new “jumbo” windowboxes hold up to 52 quarts of feed, I expect them to carry a lot of weight. I think the best way to keep these sturdy flower boxes up for a lifetime is to attach them directly to the house. I am sure you can rig a way to hook them onto the house without being permanently attached. Since I can fill and care for the boxes from above, I am not interested in removing them. I want them up there for good.
Mounting the Windowboxes
It’s best to go ahead and mount the boxes before filling them with anything. These are beefy boxes. You will need someone to help lift and hold them in place while you drill. I had our local hardware store cut a 2x4x8 in half. The four-inch boards fit perfectly under the molded hooks. Center and level the box below the window. Have someone hold the box in position, or place it on an adjustable ladder at the right height. I drive six, self-drilling, all-weather, six-inch, hex head screws through the back of the box, the wood, the other layer of windowbox that curves over, into the vinyl siding, and finally into the wood on the house exterior. The six-inch hex bolts hold the box snuggly in place.
Create the Window Box of Your Dreams
Now your jumbo heavy-duty DIY window boxes are in place and ready for a lifetime of service. Mine will be filled with fire engine red dwarf roses, tiny white bushy flowers, and some type of vine or hanging greenery that is to be decided. I can’t wait to dress my window boxes seasonally. I feel like window boxes are like eye makeup for the house. It adds a lot of charm and beauty to even the most basic home.
More Great Ideas
You can see the detailed video instructions for this project here. I hope you have enjoyed another unconventional home improvement project. Be sure to bookmark this blog and return often for more ideas on turning the home you have into the home you want. Also, be my guest at the Sawdust and Cornbread channel for weekly DIY Videos taking one thing and making it into something else. You can also check the video notes to see if you found all the Disney Easter Eggs in this week’s blog posts.
Until next time. Who says that my dreams have to just stay my dreams?
~Lora Lea
