Spice Up Your Routine With Planter Boxes By Tonya Kerniva At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

What’s better than a handpicked bouquet of vibrant flowers or the taste of fresh herbs? Not having to spend hours of back-breaking labor digging up a plot of arable land to make into a garden. Planter boxes are the not just the easy way out; they are the perfect and mobile way to showcase your blooms and foliage. Before you set up a box in your backyard or window, refer to this handy checklist so you’re prepped and ready to plant.

1. Plan ahead. Count how many planter boxes you have versus how many plants you would like, but take into consideration the spatial needs of the different species. Some plants require more space, while others have long-reaching roots. Others still, like ivy or phlox are creepers that will eventually hang over the sides of planters boxes.

2. Note where you will be putting your boxes and how much sunlight is in those areas. Plants and flowers are normally grouped into three categories by how much sunlight they need: direct sunlight, partial sunlight, and shade. For instance, do not plant a shade seeking flower with a sunshine seeking flower. Take heed: the late afternoon rays are much weaker than early afternoon sun because of the angle at which they hit the earth.

3. Play around with different color and pattern combinations. Flowers come in a plethora of varieties, and pairing them alongside green leafy plants like various grasses and ferns creates a nice contrasted and natural look.

4. After bringing plants home, have all tools at the ready so there’s no need to stop midway through planting to go and get something you have forgotten. The items you will need are gloves, a trowel and garden claw for digging, potting soil, optional fertilizer, and a hose or watering can.

5. Start out by filling planter boxes about 2/3 of the way full with potting soil. Here is where you may want to add a layer of fertilizer like Miracle-Gro if the soil you’re using is not already enriched.

6. Next, take plants from the containers they came in, gently loosening the roots a bit, and place into the box. Space plants evenly apart and do not overcrowd. Be extra careful trying not to break the roots.

7. While holding plants upright, fill in the rest of the potting soil up to the edge of your planter boxes. Press down on the base of the plants to secure them in place.

8.Finish by watering plants with a hose or watering can. Be gentle when using a hose as the water pressure could damage the fragile stalks, and make sure not to overwater plants, as this may kill them. Depending on the temperature, weather and humidity, water plants regularly according to their needs.

Build Your Own

If you’re a real go-getter, try constructing your own planter boxes. They’re relatively simple to build, and this way you can have them to your exact size and shape specifications. Store-bought planters usually come with a rudimentary drainage system and window planters come with attachable brackets, but otherwise they’re all basically open top square or rectangular wooden boxes. Just be sure to choose a durable hardwood like cedar or cypress that handles well in the outdoors. Also, reinforce bottoms as that is where the weight from all of the potting soil will rest. Finally, attach the side boards as close together as possible to reduce any spillage from the soil. In the end, whether you buy or build, planter boxes are a fruitful summer project whose results just keep giving.

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