Marianne's Response

Soil use and reuse in window boxes

Is it okay to reuse the soil in window boxes?

Posted by Beverly Perry on May 24, 2015

Marianne's Response

Yes - if the soil was potting soil and it drained well and grew happy plants before. But you must loosen up the old soil as winter rains will pack it down. Either add at least one third fresh potting soil and mix it all in, or lighten it up with a few inches of perlite or pumice on top, and then mixed into the old soil. You must also fertilize the old soil as all the nutrients will be used up. After reusing the same potting soil for three or four years I always recommend starting fresh with a quality potting soil. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti