Most people see basement window wells as a plain part of the foundation, and they’re easy to overlook. The view from a basement window usually stops at a wall of metal or concrete, with gravel and whatever debris has blown in sitting at the bottom.
This post covers how to pick plants that suit your well, which decorative items bring the space together, and how to keep your window well garden healthy year-round.
What Is a Window Well Garden
A window well garden turns the space around a basement window into a small planted feature. Instead of looking out at a bare well, you look out at greenery, flowers, and a view that feels like part of the yard.
It works well for anyone who’s tight on outdoor space but still wants a bit of greenery. Even small basement windows open onto enough room for a few pots, a hanging planter, or a bed of low-growing plants.
With the right plants and a bit of care, the well becomes a feature instead of an afterthought.
Benefits of a Window Well Garden
- More greenery indoors: A garden adds life to basement spaces that would otherwise stay bare. Instead of hiding a plain well behind basement window curtains or other basement window treatments, you give the view from your basement room something worth looking at.
- Room to grow: Some window wells get enough natural light to grow small herbs or vegetables along with ornamental plants and flowers.
- A purpose for unused space: A garden gives an unused part of your home’s exterior an actual purpose and turns the space outside your basement window into an extension of your yard.
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Window Well
Light levels vary from well to well depending on your home’s orientation. A well on the sunny side of the house behaves very differently than one tucked into a shady corner, so match your plants to the conditions you have. For anything you plan to leave in the well year-round, check your zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, so you choose plants that can handle your winters.
Houseplants you move into the well for the warmer months will need to come back indoors before temperatures drop for the season.
Best Plants for Low Light
Most window wells sit below ground level and see limited direct sun, so shade-tolerant plants are usually the best choice.
|
Plant |
Why It Works |
|
Ferns |
Tolerates shade well, wide range of shapes and sizes |
|
Begonias |
Grows indoors or outdoors, adds color to a dim space |
|
Astilbe |
Blooms with feathery flower spikes in shady spots |
|
Ivy |
Trailing vines fill out the space and add texture; keep trimmed back |
|
Hostas |
Reliable in shade; check mature size before planting since some varieties grow large |
Drought-Resistant Plants for Low Maintenance
If you won’t be watering every few days, drought-resistant plants keep the garden going with very little effort.
|
Plant |
Why It Works |
|
Succulents |
Store water in their leaves, so they go longer between watering. They also come in a wide range of shapes and colors. |
|
Cacti |
Built for dry conditions, cacti need very little water once they’re established. (not recommended for egress wells) |
|
Sedums |
Handle both low rainfall and shifting light, and they’re available in a range of colors and textures. |
Decor Ideas to Enhance a Window Well Garden
Plants are only part of the picture. A few decorative items can tie the space together and make the well feel finished.
Decorative liners
A decorative window well liner adds bright color and personality behind the plants, and it’s a simple solution for a well that’s rusty or stained. Window Well Experts liners are printed on heavy-gauge vinyl in dozens of scenes, including gardens, flowers, and stone. They work on both galvanized steel and concrete window wells. Because a liner covers the well walls and not the window, natural light still reaches the basement. Choose one that matches the space.
Hanging plants
Hanging planters use vertical space efficiently in a small well and leave the bottom free for pots or stone.
Vertical gardening
Wall planters or a small trellis let climbing plants like ivy grow upward. Choose varieties carefully so they don’t take over the well or grow across the window.
Outdoor tie-in
Style the well to extend the look of the yard just outside it, using the same plants, rocks, or colors as your landscaping.
Small accents
Fairy lights or colorful stones from a garden center or hardware store add a finishing touch and a bit of whimsy.
Potted plants
Potted plants are an easy, low-maintenance option. If you choose the right variety for the conditions, most only need watering about once a week.
If your well serves an egress window, keep plants, planters, and decor clear of the window and any escape ladder so the emergency exit stays usable. An egress window is a larger window sized for emergency exits, and having two ways out of every room is a key part of any home fire escape plan. Check your local building codes or our egress code page if you’re unsure what your well needs to keep clear.
Window Well Experts, Built for the Space You’re Working With
A window well garden still needs to keep water and debris under control. Plants sit at the bottom of the well where rain collects, so proper drainage through the gravel and drain protects both the plants and the foundation. A clear window well cover or metal grate keeps leaves and debris out while letting light and ventilation through. If you’re starting a well garden from scratch, consider the light your well gets, how much time you can commit to plant care, and the right accessories to build the rest of the design on.
Window Well Experts has supplied window wells, covers, and accessories for over 50 years, serving more than 50,000 customers across the United States and Canada, and every cover is built to your window well’s measurements. Covers ship anywhere in the continental United States, so you can protect your new garden no matter where you live.