Anyone who has ever tried to put up a window box knows that those little mounting brackets on the back of the planter are the bane of anyone’s existence.
Unless you have an excellent hammer drill and lots of patience, most people end up giving up or damaging their wall trying to get those nuts and bolts into the wall.
You can add so much beauty to your home with a little change, and a flower box is ideal for bringing life to your windows. Let’s look at several ways to hang a window box without drilling.
Drill-Free Window Box Hanging: 6 Ingenious Ways
If you have a sunny windowsill and love to grow plants, a window box is a perfect addition to your home. But what do you do if there isn’t an obvious place to drill into the wall or you just don’t want to?
Luckily, plenty of ingenious ways to hang a window box without drilling will give your plants the support they need.
1. A Window Hanger
Hooked window hangers are typically used to hang window boxes from the wall but can also be used to hang bags and other items. They can be made from various materials, including wire, plastic, and metal.
A hooked hanger will fit into the grooves on the back of your window box frame. Once you’ve hooked it onto the back of it, simply lift it up, and the hooks will catch onto your window frame, holding the window box in place.
2. Command Strips Or Hooks
If you don’t have a hooked hanger (or they aren’t strong enough), try using Command strips or hooks to hang your planter boxes. Their versatility allows them to be used on a window ledge and brick.
They stick to almost any clean, flat surface and have surprisingly strong synthetic rubber resin adhesive backing.
Many people use them when they make interior design changes, such as hanging pictures or rearranging furniture. They’re also perfect handy for hanging window flower boxes.
Command strips and hooks come in different sizes and lengths, so you can find the one that works best for you. They are available at most home improvement stores. Amazon.com and eBay are also good places to find them online. Some retail stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, also carry them.
Installation is simple and fuss-free when following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once they’re in place, simply use them to hang your window planter box.
Bigger strips can handle objects as large as 24 inches by 36 inches and as heavy as 16 pounds. And by using extra strips or hooks, you can double your hanging weight.
To use them, first carefully mark where you’d like to put your hooks or strips. The best place is usually on the inside edges of the window box. You can also use them on the outside edges, but be sure that nobody can see them from the street.
Once you have the marks, just stick the hooks on with the special adhesive strips on the back. Now, simply lift the window box up, and it will catch on the hooks and stay in place.
3. Vinyl Siding Hangers
If your window box already comes with mounting holes, you can use vinyl siding hangers to attach it to your wall. These are special siding panels that are designed to be placed directly into window box plants without any drilling.
They are designed to be incredibly sturdy and can support up to 12 lbs, double this if two vinyl siding hooks are attached. These are a great alternative if you don’t want to use drill bits and are by far the most common way to attach a window box without any drilling.
There are two different types of brackets:
- The first is a single bracket that you can place against the wall and then attach to the side of the window box
- Alternatively, you can use a two-bracket system, where you place one seam of the siding against the wall and then the other against the window box
Both of these systems are easy to install and only take a few minutes. You can often find them at hardware stores, and it’s worth checking online too, as they often come in bulk boxes that are much cheaper.
The only issue with this method is that your windows need vinyl siding. For vinyl siding homes, the best option for installing window boxes is to purchase vinyl siding hooks that are specifically designed for vinyl siding installation. This will protect your window sill from any damage
4. D-rings
D-rings are metal rings designed to support the weight of heavy tools and garden furniture. They are incredibly strong, come in many different sizes, and are constructed to be placed directly against a wall without drilling.
In many ways, they are a lot like hooks but are placed against a wall rather than out in the open. This makes them perfect for attaching a window box without drilling.
To do this, you need to place one D-ring against the wall and then a second D-ring against the box. You can attach the two together using a screw, bolt, or even a strong piece of string.
This isn’t the sturdiest method of hanging a window box, but it is incredibly easy to install. It also allows for some flexibility, as you can easily adjust the length of the bolt or string.
A light-duty hanger will support up to 20 lbs, a 1-hole D-ring will support up to 25 lbs, and a two-hole D-ring will support up to 40 lbs
5. Magnetic Planter
Magnetic planters are best suited to smaller boxes since they can’t support the same weight as larger brackets.
They are specially designed boxes with a magnet in them, so you can place any type of seed or plant inside the bowl and then place the bowl on top of a metal surface. The magnet will keep the contents inside the bowl, allowing you to easily add new items as needed.
This makes them incredibly easy to mount, and they can be placed against any wall without needing screws or bolts. They also make it a breeze to move the planter around if you want to change the location or if you want to move it indoors during the winter.
Magnetic planters are generally quite small, making them great for smaller herbs or plants indoors, on patios, or on balconies. They are also a lot cheaper than other mounting options. So if you’re on a tight budget, they may be the right option for you.
The use will, of course, depend on a magnetic windowsill. The best option for solving the problem would be to use Command strips, or any other type of strong adhesive, to attach a magnetic surface to the windowsill and then attach the magnetic planter on top of the magnetic surface.
6. Railing Planter
This planter typically consists of a window box attached to a railing with a lid. They can be filled with soil and plants, or they can be used for decorative purposes.
These planters are especially popular in European cities, which often have more apartment balconies than in other parts of the world.
There are two basic types of planters: those with railings on both sides and those with a railing on one side but not the other. Either option works well.
However, if you have stairs leading up to your deck or patio, you might want to opt for the “no rail” option so that your plants don’t get in the way when people are going up and down the stairs.
They come in many shapes and sizes, but they are planters that can be attached to your balcony rails if you don’t have large window sills. Ideally, you should look for one that is already equipped with hooks on the back, so you can hang it over a railing without any hassle.
Look for planters that are made out of rubber or plastic, and avoid metal brackets that can scratch your railings.
For a DIY option, depending on the size of your board and the plants you want to use, you may need to get creative with how you set up your planter.
For example, if you want to make a 3-tier planter, you would need a 1×4 board for the bottom and another 1×4 for each tier above. If you have a shorter board or are planning on making multiple planters at once, you can use smaller boards or simply overlap them as needed to create the height you desire.
Final Thoughts
Hanging a window box is a simple but effective way to add extra plants to your home. Although most boxes come with instructions on installing them, there are many different ways to do it.
If you don’t own a drill, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these alternative methods. A well-placed box can add character to your home and make it easier to grow your own herbs and vegetables throughout the year.