Lining, potting, watering, and planning are all part of the window box experience. Having a good strategy will ensure not only that your plants and flowers thrive, but that your flower boxes and planters last a long time too.

First are the liner considerations. If you have a wooden planter box, it is a good idea to place a plastic liner inside to hold the soil. This tip will limit contact between the dirt, water, and wood and prolong the life of the box. Clay, concrete, and PVC window boxes are impervious to insects and rot and can be planted directly into so they make great choices as long term, low maintenance solutions.

If you have outdoor planters or window boxes to care for, then you will definitely need drainage for excess rainwater to flow out. You can easily drill drain holes in the bottom with a 1/4" drill bit. To keep these drain holes from getting dirt clogged and to prevent dirty water from pouring out, I recommend putting a half-inch layer of gravel. You can then put your soil on top

Another important consideration is the environment. Sun and rain are great for your plants and flowers but bad for window boxes and planters made from wood. Add a layer of paint to protect them from water and insects. It is typical to retouch with paint every year or two to help prolong the life of a wooden planter box. Neutral colors are a great idea as they will keep them from expanding in the sun and needing to be retouched. Neutrals also help highlight the plants and flowers better. Some materials like fiberglass and PVC hold paint extremely well or don't need to be painted at all and are worth consideration.

All that's left now is planting and watering. Exterior window box planters can need a lot of water to keep the plants and flowers healthy, especially if in direct sunlight. In some instances it may require watering as much as twice a day during peak summer conditions. Mixing a good water-absorbing polymer like aqua rocks into the soil is a good tip to help you reduce your watering frequency. Another good tip and idea is to add a drip irrigation system or sub irrigation self-watering device like the Wickinator (TM) to the planter to keep down on maintenance and help the plants and flowers thrive.

Remember to change out the plants during the different seasons and to replace the soil accordingly. Good luck and have fun!

Matt Buquoi is the owner of Flower Window Boxes, a window box company that specializes in no rot self-watering window boxes and planters. Their window boxes have been featured on NBCs The Today Show as "the last window boxes you will ever have to buy." These no rot window boxes can be made custom and ship all over the country.

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