September signals the changing of the seasons, and one of the best ways to transition into fall is by changing out summer container plantings. It’s time to replace those tired pink petunias with more seasonal offerings.
It’s easy to create a perfect fall container if you follow this simple recipe: Take one part fall flowers in complementary colors, mix in plants with attractive textures and plant tightly in an autumn-like container. Finish your fall container by garnishing with some of the bounty of available fruits and vegetables.
Now, let’s get cooking:
First, choose a color palette for your fall container. Decide whether you’d like a warm look with reds, oranges and yellows or a cool container with purples, blues and whites.
Second, decide on a container. Whether an urn, squatty square container or pumpkin-shaped pot, the most attractive plantings are those that match the look of the container. Choose a container that will fit its surroundings from September through November.
Third, grab a shopping cart and wander around Nick’s. Look for the flower colors of your warm or cool plant palette. Select several varieties of flowering plants in lighter and darker shades of the same color. Look for plants with foliage in lighter and darker variations, too.
A good formula is to select 1 upright plant, 3-5 mounding or filler plants, and 1-3 trailing plants. I like to group the plants together in the cart to see how well they fit together and then keeping wandering!
Here are some favorite fall plants to help you get started:
Mums are the classic go-to for fall because they come in many different colors, and they look great in containers.
Black-eyed Susans are a flowering perennial plant, but these look beautiful in fall containers.
Pansies in jewel tones are always a nice addition around the sides of fall containers. Look for pansies in rich colors like ruby, dark purple, and deep orange.
Ornamental kale is a fall filler plant because of its striking foliage, and kale can tolerant some cooler temperatures, too.
Ornamental peppers are a colorful filler plant. The peppers persist on the plants, and they look good even when they dry.
Rosemary is an herb that makes for an interesting upright plant, as does millet, sedge and different types of ornamental grasses.
Fresh miniature pumpkins, warty gourds, small squashes and other vegetables can also easily take the place of a mounding plant or two. Tuck several into the front and sides of the container.
Foliage plants like heuchera, coleus and sedum add texture to fall containers. Mix and match for the most eye-pleasing display.
Once your fall container is planted, add natural adornments like curly twigs, gnarly branches, vines with dried berries, and colorful leaves for the perfect finishing touch.
