Let’s tackle this important topic of ‘How to install faux flowers in window boxes!’ Yes, we’re talking faux. And believe it or not, you can pull it off in a realistic way! Here is your step by step process and links to all the items you will need.
How To Pick The Proper Size & Color Window Box
You can choose your preferred color window box for your house. Whether you want your window box to blend in with the color of your home or pop against the house is a visual aesthetic that’s up to you.
Sometimes, with brick homes, a white window box is great because it may match the color of the trim.
For stone or stucco homes, an off-white or tan option may be your best color, to blend in. Again, I vote to to blend the color of the box with the home color and let the flowers do the talking.
The proper size window box is one that is close to the width of the windows. It does NOT need to expand the total width of the windows and shutters. If the window box is not as wide as the window, that’s ok, but ideally, it would be close to the width of them.
Window Box Options: Colors & Sizes
I have included several different size options and colors to help give you a head start on your search.
Choose The Appropriate ‘Wedge Anchor’ To Attach Window Box To Wall
Thanks to this handy video from “This Old House,” they have an instructional video of the process for drilling the holes and installing the anchors to the baskets, into the side of the house. I have gone ahead and screen shot the necessary images from the This Old House video to just help give you a quick visual.
They say you can use either one of these wedge anchors as well as a few other options too! The left image, below, is longer and a little more robust and seems like it would be the better option for larger window boxes. But he did say either would be fine!
After doing a little research on customer reviews, I have added the following link for a wedge anchor that can be found at Lowes. But know that many varieties can accomplish the same purpose!
Once drilled into the brick, the wedge anchor expands and is then unable to be pulled out from the brick.
Measure & Mark The Spots For The Drill Holes
Not only do the holes need to correspond to the spacing on the window box brackets, but NOTICE the instructed distance it recommends to place the holes beneath the window sill.
Use A Hammer Drill Or An Electric Drill With The Proper Size Drill Bit Designed For Masonry
Although he uses a hammer drill, a normal electronic drill with a masonry-specific drill bit would do just fine.
When you go to any hardware store to purchase the wedge anchors, coordinate that purchase with the right size masonry drill bit. And if you have questions, talk with an attendant! You will need a drill bit to go with the kind of electronic drill you have, so be able to reference the make and model, or just bring your drill with you.
Final Steps For Installing Window Box
- Hammer The Wedge Anchors Into Each Hole
- Screw Window Box Anchors (That come with Window Box) Into the Holes
- Hang Window Box Onto Each Anchor to Ensure it Fits
- Remove Window Box to Finish Filling With Foam & Faux Flowers
Glue Foam Blocks Into Planters **But Place Them In First (Practice Arranging) Before Finally Glueing!
1st: Create Your Foam Blocks Composition In Each Planter Box
More often than not, floral boxes have many varying heights of plants. The plants are tall, medium and spilling over.
One article I wrote, where I discuss this at length, is how to recreate gorgeous window boxes with faux flowers and where to get those flowers! That would be a huge help to read that one first, if you need to know where to get the best supplies and how to insert each grouping of flowers into the overall arrangement.
Arrange Some Foam Blocks Horizontally & Some Vertically
If you have varying heights in your plants, you will want to plan to put some foam blocks horizontally (flat) in the window box and others vertically and upright in the window box.
If the vertical, upright blocks poke out of the top, that may be ok if an overflowing green plant is covering it. But if it’s still visible to the naked eye, then you can take a kitchen knife and cut it down to stay level (or just below) the top of the window box line.
These various levels of foam blocks will help give your window boxes a natural and organic look. They will help create various heights of interest, the same way a garden’s plants grow at different rates.
In the above photo, the following hanging ivy and bunches of flowers have a multi- level composition that could best be created by horizontal and vertically placed foam blocks. The vertical blocks would be for the flowers to give the a raised look above all the greenery. 2nd: Apply The Glue In Bottom Of Planter Box & Onto The Foam Blocks
2nd: Glue Foam Blocks Into Window Box
NOW WAIT!! Once you get the plan in place of which blocks are going where, it is time to cover the bottom of the foam blocks as well as the planter with plenty of industrial strength adhesive glue.
Place the glued foam blocks in place and allow them to dry for 24 hours before proceeding with the faux flowers and faux greenery plants!
3rd: Tricks For Inserting the Faux Flowers into The Foam
Here are some of the best little secrets for how to install faux flowers in window boxes.
Some bunches of faux flowers will come with such a long wired stem that it will probably be necessary to cut several inches off of the ends. It is less ideal to try and insert a bunch of wired stems (together) into the same hole. The larger the hole, the more that hole will be prone to stretch open. The heaviness of that grouping of plants could then possibly fall over.
It is better to place individual stems or two stems together, at a time, into the foam. Separate holes for each little stem will allow the foam to hold all the pieces together, in an ideal manner.
How to Install Faux Flowers in Window Boxes & The Foam: SPECIAL TRICK!! Apply Glue To The Stems & The Foam at the Hole
This is a special trick to make your faux florals last a long time! AFTER one stem has been inserted into the foam, apply a dollop of glue right where the stem meets the top of the foam. Hold this in place for as long as needed. See the below picture for reference.
This will add great security to the stems and give them a longer “shelf-life” if you will!
FINAL STEP: Add Mulch to Plants To Make Them More Realistic
If there are any bare spots and these window boxes are nearby, consider adding this for an even more realistic touch! But ideally, keep adding faux flowers to prevent bare spots. You will need so many more flowers than you would originally guess to achieve that full look.
Lastly, Spray Sun Guard Protectant Over All Faux Flowers
This spray works wonders for helping prevent peeling and cracking on faux flowers, outside, which could come from constant sun exposure.
Final Results: 2 Visuals of Faux Flowers in Window Boxes
Although I don’t yet have my personal images to share, I’m waiting on our next fixer upper to add these beauties, I have included two visuals for you to see faux flowers in window boxes!
Don’t Have Time For Creating Your Own Custom Faux Floral Arrangement? They Have Pre-Made Ones Too!
Now, if you don’t want to make your own arrangements in the window boxes, there are also some pre-made faux fillers out there and I have linked many more ideas in another article here!
Or You Can Also Mix Faux & Real Flowers In the Window Box!
In Chrissy Marie’s blog, she brilliantly mixes both faux and real flowers to create a nice aesthetic where you would never be guessing!
This concludes our discussion on how to install faux flowers in window boxes. I hope this helps answer any of your questions in the journey to beautify your home!
Thanks for reading!
