Window boxes lifting the soul

Window boxes lifting the soul

Genus founder Sue began gardening in miniature in her London flat using planters and window boxes as a route to releasing her gardening passion. There’s lots that can be done container gardening in a small space.

Window boxes are one great way to green the grey in urban and village areas, bringing colour, homes for wildlife and a sense of wellbeing right into a place.  The planting design should aim for something central and taller, with shorter plants to the side, with curtains of trailing plants all along.  The planting scheme can change through the year ringing the passing seasons.

We have just been preparing spring window boxes planting them up with favourite flowering bulbs, snowdrops and miniature daffodils and trailing ivy.  Up and running already are the late autumn boxes which have cyclamen, Senecio and winter pansies.

The art of container gardening and window box planting is said by some to have begun with the Romans, but there has been something of a resurgence in gardeners' interest for hanging baskets and window boxes more recently with the current trend for upcycling seeing all kinds of containers appearing ..... even old Wellington boots!


On the plot - Italian vegetables

Why not try something new in the vegetable garden this year?  Italian vegetables have grown in popularity in recent years faring well in the UK climate. There are three we’d...
Read More

Gardening explained - marcescence

You may have noticed certain trees clinging on to their leaves throughout winter and well into spring until new replacements start to appear.  This holding on to last year's leaves...
Read More

Gardeners' notes - what to do in May

Plant out half hardy annuals Your greenhouse or window sills are probably groaning under the weight of annual plants that you’ve been caring for since sowing them a few months...
Read More