Windbox liner and drainage issues

16 years ago

I am doing the finishing touches on remodeling my kitchen and back deck. I used Thathomesite and GW to help me through the process. I spent a lot of time doing research and I feel like the whole process has been very successful except for one thing. We had plans to put in a Bay Window but discovered that it would be too costly. I had the idea of putting a wooden window box outside a kitchen window over our brand new pavers. I thought that it would be no big deal.

My cabinet guy made a box and very firmly attached it to the outside of the house. The painter painted it. My garden designer put in some excellent quality soil, some pretty plants and a drip line. My garden designer is very well versed in plants but not so much in the hardscape area. No one told us about liners for the box. Within a couple of days (partially my fault because of some overwatering) the front of the window box was showing lines through the paint, water was seeping from the wrong areas and we were getting stains on the pavers and on our new siding from the tannins in the redwood. We've removed all of the soil and the plants and now have to figure out a solution. Let me also say that since we are at the end of a big remodel, cash is very low so I would love a solution that won't cost an arm and a leg.

We would love to have plants in the window box but I guess as a last resort we could put a top on it and make it into a serving area. If we do continue to use it as a window box, we have two issues to resolve. 1. Lining it with something (plastic or metal) that will prevent damage to the wood and will keep water from leaching out. 2. Solving the drainage issue so that the tannins in the redwood don't go directly onto the brand new pavers staining them in the process. (By the way, using bleach has done a beautiful job in getting out the current stains but I don't want to use that as a constant solution). The interior measurements of the window box are 69 1/2" long x 10" wide and 12" deep.

Here are pictures. I would love any suggestions that you can make.

Here is a link that might be useful: Window Box Pictures

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Comments (6)

susan2010
16 years ago
You could put several plastic pots into the window box and moss inbetween to camoflage the whole thing. A few drainage holes along the bottom of the window box should let any overflow/runoff out. I actually did the same thing this year. I spaced 5 pots inside my window box and started a dwarf sunflower in each. They are just about to bloom now. If you choose this "modular" approach, you can switch out plantings to suit the season and your mood.
carecooks
Original Author
16 years ago
Susan2010,

That's one solution that I've been considering. Is there any chance that you can post a picture of it for me?

Thanks,

Care
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susan2010
16 years ago
Oh dear, I've never tried to post a picture here. I'm headed to work, so I'll have to give it some thought. But it could take a couple of days.
carecooks
Original Author
16 years ago
Susan,

Here is how to post a picture if you have one on your computer. If this is too complicated then don't bother. But thanks no matter what.

Posting a picture from your photo hosting account (e.g., PhotoBucket, Flickr)
First, where are your pictures? If on your computer only, you'll need to upload them somewhere on the web for the rest of us to see them. I upload pictures to PhotoBucket.

Open an account w/PhotoBucket or other photo hosting site.

Take a picture using a digital camera (or film camera but get them on disk when they're developed)

Resize your pics so they're not too big, generally no more than 400x300 (or 300x400) (resize keeping the same proportions so they don't get distorted...i.e., don't specify a specific size, use %-ages or similar)*****[You can also often resize pictures at your photo hosting site, but it's faster to do on your computer]

Upload your pictures to your photo account

Find the label that contains the link to the picture
(In PhotoBucket, it's the box labeled "HTML Code")
Copy that link and paste it into the "Message" box of a post.

When you "Preview" your message, you will see the picture.
susan2010
16 years ago
Thanks. I don't have a photo of the box yet. We're expecting downpours all day today, so I'll see if I can get out and snap one at the first sign of sun!

I decided to use the pots because I wasn't happy with the window boxes last year. I like the idea that I can swap things out (I have one sunflower, for instance, that isn't growing well - I can swap it out with a better one, since I planted a few extras) and move them around. I didn't do the moss between, since my box is very casual and on my back porch. But sphagnum would work for a more formal arrangement, I think.
susan2010
16 years ago
Sorry for the delay in posting these. Blame the weather and my learning curve.

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I did plant some nasturtium seeds in with them. Those are the non-sunflower leaves you're seeing.