Autumn is the perfect time to plant up a window box. Fill it with cheerful winter-flowering annuals and you’ll have a world of colour right outside your window throughout the winter months. It’s the perfect way to appreciate your garden without actually going outside when the weather becomes really cold.

Before you get started, consider a few practical issues: is the windowsill you have in mind broad enough to support a window box? If not, consider installing a bracket just beneath the window to support the box. Also consider the way in which your windows open and close. If they open sideways, you’ll need to choose shorter plants that won’t grow too tall and block the movement of the windows.

Now you’re ready to get started:

• Choose a pretty window box from one of our five Stodels garden centres and line it with weed control fabric or a thin dishtowel. This will allow water to drain through the bottom of the box, but will keep the soil inside.
• Fill the box with good quality potting soil, water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertiliser.
• Plant a selection of winter-flowering annuals like pansies, primulas, violas and daffodils in the window box. Or opt for a pretty herb window box – filled with chives, parsley, thyme and rosemary – and place it outside a kitchen window.
• Firm down the soil well, ensuring that the level of the soil is about 2cm below the brim of the window box. This will prevent overflowing when you water your window box.
• Water your window box every second day and look forward to a pretty display in the months to come.