Lift winter with window boxes

Pick the best flowers and foliage to smarten up your outside as the season really takes hold

- With DAVID DOMONEY

January has plenty of potential for adding colour to the garden. A well-planted window box puts winter flowers and evergreen foliage right at eye level, so you can enjoy it every time you pass the window. It's also a tidy way to garden in small spaces, from balconies to narrow ledges.

CHOOSE YOUR WINDOW BOX AND POSITION

If you already have a window box, empty it completely and give it a good wash. Fresh peat free compost makes a big difference to drainage and plant health, even in winter.

When you're buying new, make sure you measure the window carefully and choose a sturdy trough with proper drainage holes. If you're fixing it in place, use strong angle brackets and suitable wall plugs and screws. If your window opens outwards, keep plants low or hang the box slightly below the opening line.

PLANTS THAT LOOK GOOD IN JANUARY