Don't Throw Out Your Old Gutters - Repurpose Them Into Custom Window Box Planters

Window boxes were the go-to for 20th century U.S. city dwellers looking to plant a victory garden and do their bit for the war effort. Their popularity has only grown since. Window gardens are perfect for people who want to test their green thumb but don't have much backyard space. You can theme them seasonally — think cozy fall window box ideas for your home — grow vegetables like our mid-century kin, or attract wildlife with your small slice of nature. If you can wield some simple tools, you don't have to pay lots for readymade planters. Instead, cut a length of old plastic or metal rain gutter to fit your window, pop on some ends caps, drill drainage holes, and mount the gutter with heavy duty brackets. Fill it with a good quality planting medium and your favorite flowers, herbs, or shallow rooted vegetables.

Before getting started building this genius way to repurpose gutters around your home, you'll need a few basic supplies and tools. Any size of steel or plastic (vinyl or PVC) guttering — the standard 5 inch or larger 6 inch — and style — half-round or k-style — will work for this project. You'll also need two end caps (or wood cut to size) for every length of gutter and gutter hangers and screws. A set of two left and right 5" Inch White K-Style Aluminum Rain Gutter End Caps cost about $10, while a pack of 50 Quick Screw 5" Premium Hidden Rain Gutter Bracket Hook Hangers cost just over $30. Tool-wise, grab some tin snips or a hacksaw and a drill fitted with a 1/8 inch bit.

Measure your window frame and cut the gutter to the length (or lengths) you need using the tin snips or a hacksaw. Be sure to don some gloves and goggles for safety. Scrub the gutters clean with fresh water and a little dish soap, if needed, before cutting them. Drill drainage holes in the center of the bottom of the gutter, spaced anywhere between 6 inches, 8 inches, or 10 inches apart. Fit the end caps into the ends of each length of gutter. If you're using wood, you'll need to screw them into the ends. You can use waterproof silicone caulking to seal the ends caps if you wish, but it's not really necessary unless you don't want any drainage holes — something we don't recommend due to the risk of overwatering.

Now, you're ready to mount your plastic or metal gutter box to the window frame. The number of gutter hangers you need depends on length. We recommend two for very short gutters and three (or more) for long lengths. Weight matters here — use your best judgement related to what and how much you plan to plant in your gutter gardens. Drill pilot holes in your window frame at each point you want to attach a bracket before screwing on said brackets. Snap your guttering onto them, wiggling everything a bit to test the connection is secure. Alternatives to gutter brackets is to screw the gutter directly to the window frame (through the back wall) and support the base with simple L-brackets. Metal hooks attached to the back of the gutters offer another less permanent solution.

Mount multiple gutter window boxes across a sunny window to create indoor shade without awnings or curtains. Hang them within or below the window frame using heavy duty eye hooks and sisal rope. Don't want to drill into your siding or window frames? Depending on the style of your window, you might be able to fit the gutter into a window box bracket — XZWMY 4-Pack of Heavy Duty Steel Adjustable Window Box Brackets cost about $33 — or forgo the window altogether and mount your creation to your deck railing. For those with deep or flat window recesses, simply sit it atop the frame outdoors or even inside. Remove the gutter planter when you water your plants to avoid damaging the sill.

Fill your gutter planter with an all purpose soil mixture or soil-based compost and slow release fertilizer and your plants of choice. Geraniums, trailing verbena, and miniature roses number among the many best flowering plants for your window boxes. Strawberries do well in the relatively shallow soil of gutter planters, as do most herbs (they love good drainage) and leafy greens like lettuce. Create a windowsill pollinator garden by planting it with plants that boast nectar-filled blooms — think aster, purple coneflower, and butterfly milkweed, among many others. Note that shallow gutter gardens dry out quickly; you may end up watering them as often as twice a day when it's hot and dry. Want abundant verdure without all that pesky tending? Fill your gutter window box with quality faux flora. For example, the SEEKO Realistic Un-potted Fake Succulents set costs about $27.