Fix Up a Front Entry in a Weekend

These great ideas are yours to own--go for it!

Reality TV makes it tough to face real life. There’s no high-powered crew coming, you’re not headed for Disney World, and before you can say "Ty Pennington," it’s Sunday night. So can you really make a difference in a weekend? You bet. It all starts with a plan. Use our time schedule to help you divide up and prioritize your tasks.

2 TO 4 WEEKS OUT:

  • Order shutters and hardware.
  • Check with manufacturer for delivery date.
  • Get window boxes and hardware.
  • Find unpainted bench.
  • Purchase plastic pots.

1 WEEK OUT:
Window Boxes:

  • Paint boxes, if necessary, with primer coat and 2 top coats.
  • Purchase packing peanuts, potting soil, fertilizer.
  • Purchase plants.

Plastic Pots:

  • Paint to match house shutter color―2 coats.
Bench: 
  • Paint bench―primer coat and 2 top coats.
Shutters: 
  • Paint shutters―primer coat and 2 top coats.
     

Shopping List

  • window boxes
  • metal L brackets for mounting box
  • screws or bolts--wood or masonry depending on your house
  • drill bit--for wood or masonry
  • decorative brackets to cover metal supports

Tools

  • tape measure
  • pencil
  • drill with appropriate bit

Planting How-to

  • Fill the bottom third of the window box with packing peanuts. This ensures good drainage and reduces the weight.
  • Add potting soil to fill the box. Sprinkle all-purpose granular timed-release fertilizer (such as 14-14-14) on top.
  • Add plants, putting tall ones in the back, medium-size in the middle, and trailers to come over the front edge.
  • Water the box thoroughly.
 

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