Basic Window Box

Using cheap timber, or even timber scraps, you can make this small window box in less than an hour. Present the window box with seeds or plants in small pots already in place.

WHAT YOU NEED

Timber (e.g. pine), 530 mm x 100 mm x 12 mm • undressed lath or door strapping, about 1280 mm x 30 mm x 12 mm • 12 bullet head nails,25 mm long • clear varnish or paint in a colour of your choice • pencil ruler • medium-grade sandpaper • masking tape • drill and 2 mm drill bit • hammer • handsaw

CUTTING THE WOOD

1 Using the pencil, ruler and handsaw, cut the 100 mm x 12 mm timber into one 300 mm length (for the base) and two 115 mm lengths (for the ends). Then cut the undressed lath into four 320 mm strips.

2 Sand all the pieces, paying particular attention to the edges and corners.

CONSTRUCTING THE BOX

1 Drill two holes in each of the end pieces, 20 mm up from the bottom and 10 mm in from each side. Nail the ends to the base, nailing one end on at a time. The end pieces should protrude below the base piece to form the legs of the window box.

2 Position a strip of lath on each side of the box, level with the tops of the ends. Drill a hole at each end of the strips, and then hammer in the nails to attach the strips to the end pieces.

3 Repeat step 2 to nail the other strips below the first strips, leaving a gap of about 15 mm between them.

FINISHING

1 Sand the window box all over with medium-grade sandpaper.

2 Seal with two coats of clear varnish or with paint in your chosen colour.

FILLING THE WINDOW BOX

1 Look for small plant pots that will fit into the window box. You should be able to fit three or four in. Make sure that the pots have saucers and that these will also fit into the box.

HINT

Instead of sowing the seeds, you could give the recipient packets of seeds to plant at the appropriate times of the year. For a really personal touch, place the seeds in homemade packets. Don’t forget to include instructions for growing.

2 Put a few small pebbles or pieces of broken crockery in the bottoms of the pots to assist drainage, and fill the pots with soil. If you are using good-quality potting mix, you will not need to add the pebbles.

3 Plant the pots with seeds from dwarf varieties of herbs or flowers. For the best results, use plants that require similar growing conditions.

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