Late Summer Window Box Planters Ideas

Window box planters are a great way to liven up your windows and add a temporary splash of color to your home. But by August those annuals that looked so full and sprightly in June are now starting to wilt and fade. By adding a few new plants, knickknacks or replanting your window box entirely you can create a whole new vibrant look for late summer that will last into fall.

• Leafy Accents
  • Coleus is a leafy plant that starts to come into its own in late summer and can last long into fall. The reds, whites, lime greens and purples that splash these leaves provide excellent additional color to your planters.
  • Ornamental cabbage are perfect for filling space and providing subtle color. With broad fancy leaves and rich colors such as purples, pinks, greens and whites these hardy plants add a bold statement to any planter.
• Flowers in Bloom
  • Verbena comes in a variety of hues and is a hardy plant that will flower from late spring into fall. Choose this versatile flower to fill in empty spaces, add vibrant color or to spill over the edges of your planter.
  • Dahlias and zinnias create a dramatic impact with their impressive blooms. Dahlias will bloom through late fall, giving your planter fantastic color all through the season. For more temperate climates, zinnias will also provide a shock of color through fall, but may not last as long in northern states.
• Edible Plants
  • If your new planter needs some height or filling in, consider planting rosemary. Not only does rosemary smell fantastic, it’s an evergreen and can last into late fall. During that time you’ll have fresh rosemary for your kitchen needs right outside your window!
  • Sage is another great addition to late summer planters. While by August you’ll have missed the blooms, sage’s soft green leaves are a great filler and an excellent deer deterrent. Because sage is a hardy herb, you can use this fragrant plant in cooking for months to come.
• Knicknacks
  • Are your window box planters still flourishing, with the exception perhaps of a plant or two? Take some time to weed out the dead and dying parts of your plants, then fill in any remaining holes with decorations of your choosing. Have some favorite ornaments you can’t bear to bring out only once a year? Give them another time to shine! Still holding on to long-outgrown toys? Your planter is transformed into a whimsical wonderland.

Just because summer is coming to an end, that doesn’t mean your window box planters have to close out their season too. Get creative and give those planters a second life! For more window decorating ideas, visit our Window Decorations Pinterest board.