Fall is one of the best times to refresh your containers. The colors are rich, the temperatures are cooler, and you can use an incredible variety of plants and seasonal accents.
The biggest difference between planting a fall container and a spring or summer container? Plant it full from the beginning. As the days get shorter and temperatures cool, plants grow much more slowly. Instead of leaving room for plants to fill in, think of your container as a flower arrangement. You want it to look full and finished the day you plant it.
And this is a great time to use your imagination. Almost anything goes! Combine ornamental grasses with mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale, and perennials such as heuchera or sedum. Small evergreens add structure and can remain attractive well beyond fall. Tuck in pumpkins or gourds for another layer of color and texture.
You don’t have to follow the traditional “thriller, filler and spiller” formula, either. A mass of one plant can be beautiful, or you can mix plants with different heights, foliage, textures and colors. Look around the nursery for things that catch your eye and experiment with combinations before you plant.
A Few Tips for Success
Start with a container that has good drainage and fill it with a high-quality potting mix, not garden soil. Most of the plants commonly used in fall containers perform best in full sun, although some, such as heuchera, can work well with less.
Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly right after planting. Cooler weather means containers won’t dry out as quickly as they do in summer, but they still need regular watering. Check the soil rather than assuming that cool weather means the plants don’t need water.
As flowers fade, remove spent blooms and tired foliage to keep the arrangement looking fresh. And as the season progresses, you can easily change the look without replanting the entire container. Remove something that has finished and replace it with a pumpkin, evergreen branches or another seasonal accent.
Best of all, there really aren’t many rules. Plant it full, mix things you love, and have fun with it. A fall container doesn’t have to look like a miniature garden, it can simply be a beautiful arrangement for your front porch, patio or entryway.