DIY Network

Window Box Planter: Getting Started From "Woodworking" episode DIW-202

A window-box planter adds interest to this home's exterior.

A window-box planter--like the one featured in this project--is a great way to add detail to a home's exterior. It can camouflage off-center windows and add appeal to an uninteresting facade. It even adds beauty and color with the addition of plants and flowers. Although window-box planters were once a common feature on many homes of the past, they're rarely found on today's homes.

Bringing this historic element to the present isn't difficult, thanks to this beginner's woodworking project. With a little time and less than $30 in materials (per box), a window-box planter can be added to almost any home's exterior.

Before building the window-box planter, DIY Woodworking host Bruce Johnson carefully measures and determines the size of the box. After taking measurements, he selects the wood to be used.

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Measuring

• The width of the windows (figure A) determines the final length of the planter. This measurement will vary from house to house and each set of windows measured, so dimensions should be adjusted as necessary.

• The depth and height should be large enough to hold pots or an amount of dirt that will retain moisture for a few days. Johnson determines that his box should be 7" deep and 7" high to accommodate 6" flower pots.

• To support the weight of the box and the dirt that will fill it, Johnson will use brackets. Because the siding on the house will prevent the brackets from securely adjoining the house exterior, however, Johnson creates a cardboard template (figure B) that will help him later cut notches into the bracket.

Selecting Wood

Certain types of wood aren't suitable for this project, so Johnson makes a careful selection that will balance aesthetic needs with practical ones. He chooses cedar to match his woodwork, trim, shingles and siding.

• Pine: rots easily; not a good choice for this project because of the inherent moisture from the dirt and plants as well as normal weathering.

• Oak: turns black when wet, creating an unattractive appearance after watering.

• Cyprus: popular in the South, and becoming more popular across the country; high oil content makes it weather-resistant.

• Cedar: decay-resistant yet affordable; can be left natural or can be stained with good results; available in smooth or rough finishes.

• Teak and mahogany: more exotic; beautiful, but an expensive choice.

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RESOURCES :

The Complete Manual of Woodworking
Author: Albert Jackson
Publisher: Knopf
ISBN: 0679766111