Our "Window Boxes"

Putting in some window boxes (aka, "planter boxes") took a little more work than what most may have to go through, but it was a fun project that provided us a little more room to add some nice green scenery to our balcony view. We decided that since most of the floor space is dedicated to veggies and fruits, we'd use the planter boxes for grasses, native vegetation, and flowers to attract hummingbirds and beneficials (insects... yes, if they're good, we want them here!). So far we've seen a couple of ladybugs (YES!!) and birds have been landing on our railing- which I have never seen since I've lived here- don't know if that is always a good thing, though, esp. once the vegetables and fruits start getting more ripe...

Here's how we did it:

Our rod iron railing is skinny, so we had to improvise because no planter box hooks would fit them correctly (they are only about an inch wide, at best). We measured out an amount of chain at Home Depot and then drilled holes into our boxes (we drilled a guide hole first- otherwise, our boxes being plastic, they would have split from the force of the drill). The holes were on each end of the planter boxes (L and R sides) and on the back (the part that would be up against the railing). We then took a section of chain and looped it through and around the railing, securing it by opening one of the links in the chain on one end and then tightening it around the link in the opposite end (forming a loop). We repeated on the other side. We used a a U-hook at the bottom and center of the planter to stabilize it which we also drilled into the boxes. Because there is a slight tilt, we thought about putting in a shim behind the box before tightening down the U-hook, but decided it was too slight to make too much of a difference.

This might sound involved, but it really wasn't... we have six planter boxes and it took about 1/2 hour to do them all and cost about $6. It's been awesome to have planter boxes out there- we've already added some great natives that I believe I mentioned in a previous entry (maybe not, I'll check) and some other plants I am really excited about. More to follow!