4. INSTALL YOUR PLANTER

Even if your window box is small enough to fit onto your window ledge, you will need to secure it to the exterior of your building (unless, of course, your garden is strictly on the indoor portion of your window sill). Accidents do happen… window boxes have been known to accidentally fall, plummeting 3 floors and knocking people out cold. There are three different methods to installing a planter: 1) hook-and-eye latches; 2) 2-inch angle-iron anchors; or 3) angle brackets.

Hook-and-eye latches: You have probably seen hook-and-eye latches on screen doors. If the ledge of your window is deep enough to hold the entire window box and your window frame is wooden (that is, you don't need to hand the planter out the window), then a simple hook-and-eye latch on each side of the window box will suffice to keep it from tipping out. Here's how to do it: measure a distance from the window frame to the back of the box that will allow you to slip the hook in tautly, drill the necessary holes and affix your window box. Simple as pie!

2-inch angle-iron anchors: If your box won't fit entirely on the window sill, the addition of angle-iron anchors will provide support from underneath to supplement the security of the hook-and-eye latch.

Angle brackets: If your window sill is not wooden and unable to accommodate a hook-and-eye set (or if you have a particularly deep window box), then angle brackets are the route to go. They can be secured directly to the facade of your building and hold the planter in its place. For stone or brick buildings, you'll need a mason's drill bit to screw the angle brackets into place.

Regardless of which method you use, there are three important rules to follow:

  • Don't fill your planter until after you have secured it to your building. If you fill your planter before you have rigged support, it will make the window box heavier, more difficult to manage, and more likely to plummet.

  • Don't drill holes in a rental property unless receiving landlord approval.

  • Use common sense. If you have no industrial aptitude, have a friend, relative, significant other, or paid professional do this step for you.