Best Bets for Window Boxes

Choosing plants that match your exposure is the key to success. The leaves of shade lovers will get scorched in the high light levels of a south- or west-facing wall; and plants that thrive in full sun will grow tall and leggy in a northern exposure.

Often overlooked for window boxes are foolproof flowering bulbs. Whether you do a fall planting in the garden of miniature daffodils, snowdrops, or hyacinths for springtime bloom, or you do a late-spring planting of lilies, alliums, or dwarf gladiolus for summertime bloom, be sure to tuck a few bulbs and corms into your window boxes for added impact.

Connoisseurs may choose to add topiary forms as a focal point. Ivy or fig-vine standards ("lollipop trees") or other identifiable shapes can capture the imagination. Climbers can be trained around the window frame for an ensemble effect.