If your window boxes are only full in the summer, you are missing out on their seasonal decorating potential. Window boxes are great for upping the curb appeal of your home and they enhance the view from outside and within. When you are decorating outside for Halloween this year, remember those window boxes.
Halloween Decorating Ideas for Window Boxes (Scroll to bottom for pictures and click to enlarge)
Window boxes make great Halloween decorating ideas. You can include any number of seasonal items in the boxes: fall-colored plants, mini corn husks, pumpkins of various shapes and sizes, gourds and mini scarecrows, to name a few. If you are interested in creating a Halloween/fall scene, use the window boxes as a starting point and spread your decorations to the area below. This makes a great backdrop for seasonal photos of the family.
For fall plants, mums in yellows, browns, oranges and reds are great. For faux mums and various plants, Michaels is the best. If you have ivy in your boxes from summer, leave them in as they will change color with the season and provide some trailing visual interest.
With the dirt in the boxes from summer, arrange your flowers/plants/items with a triangular shape in mind: tallest things in the middle, next medium and smallest things at the ends. Try to make sure there are not any noticeable gaps between plants and decorations. You want them to look as full and billowing as in the summertime.
Remember to leave in the dirt when clearing out your fall decorations so you can use it for your Christmas display.
Summer Window Boxes
When you are choosing your window box annuals for the summer season, be sure to do some research and find out which varieties suit your location. Lois Hole’s "Bedding Plant Favorites" is an excellent reference book.
After you have made your list of possible plant/flower combinations, think of a color scheme. Do you like the bold reds, yellows and blues, or the softer shades of pink, white and purple? If you want the flowers to be highly visible from the street, go for the bold colors and contrasts. If you have a strong color scheme in your living room, it is also a nice touch to match your flower colors to the interior as the flowers are so visible from the inside.
When arranging your plants in the boxes, think about creating a triangular shape with the tallest plants in the middle, shorter ones at the sides and trailers at the ends. Lobelia, black-eyed susan vines and ivies are great trailing options to get that billowing look.
When pulling out your flowers at the end of the season, leave in the dirt so you can use it for your Halloween display.
Remember, one window box does not mean one look. The decorating potential of these planters are endless as they can be used throughout the year to satisfy all your seasonal decorating whims. When you are looking for outdoor decorating ideas for Halloween, remember to include some window boxes.
Lara Smith - is a freelance writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English, History and Religious Studies.
