As summer ends and autumn’s cool air comes, it’s time to focus on fall container gardening. This guide will show you how to make your outdoor spaces look great with tall grasses and trailing plants. It’s perfect for both new and experienced gardeners, offering tips and inspiration for the cooler months.

This guide covers the best fall container gardening practices. You’ll learn about cool weather crops, designing seasonal containers, and keeping autumn planters looking their best. It includes ideas for small space gardening on patios, balconies, and in apartments, as well as big ornamental planting ideas for everyone.

Key Takeaways

  • Explore the versatility of tall grasses and cut branches for stunning fall container displays
  • Learn how to transition summer containers into vibrant autumn planters
  • Discover beyond-the-basics fall plants that go beyond traditional mums and pansies
  • Develop cohesive fall container garden designs using a variety of foliage, flowers, and trailing plants
  • Maximize the impact of small pots by using them to accent larger fall container plantings

Tall Grasses as Centerpieces for Shade Gardens

Tall ornamental grasses are perfect for making beautiful centerpieces in shaded spots. They add height and interest and love the shade found in side yards or covered patios.

Miscanthus Varieties for Containers

‘Gracillimus’, ‘Adagio’, and ‘Morning Light’ are top picks for Miscanthus in containers. These tall grasses have delicate foliage and airy plumes. They bring texture and movement to shade gardens. They’re great for making standout focal points in container gardens.

Using Cut Branches as Bouquets

Using tall grasses as centerpieces is another great idea. Fantail Willow, Birch poles, Dogwood, and Willow types like flame willow and curly willow work well together. They add height, texture, and a seasonal look to container gardens. Simply put these cut branches in the planter for a striking look.

Incorporating tall grasses or natural branch bouquets into your shade garden containers can instantly elevate the visual interest and create a stunning focal point.

Using these unique elements lets gardeners design container gardens that do well in shade. They also show off their personal style and creativity.

Transitioning Summer Containers to Fall

As the seasons change, it’s a great time to update your summer container gardens for fall. You can make your containers look new without spending a lot of money. Just refresh what you already have.

Fall Flowers for Containers

Use mums, asters, and ornamental peppers to add autumn colors to your containers. Pansies, rudbeckia, celosia, dianthus, and viola are also great for the cooler weather.

Bold Foliage Plants for Autumn Containers

Add bold foliage plants that do well in the cool weather. Coleus, Swiss chard, ornamental cabbage, and ornamental kale bring texture and color to your autumn containers.

Steps to Refresh Summer Planters

  1. Take out any summer plants that are tired or dead, leaving only healthy grasses, spillers, or accent plants.
  2. Loosen the soil in the container to get ready for new plants.
  3. Add the fall flowers and foliage plants, arranging them for the best look.
  4. Finish with autumn decorations like pumpkins, gourds, or branches for a cozy feel.

By using the right fall plants, you can make your summer containers look new again. This is an easy and affordable way to welcome the new season.

fall container garden

Fall Container Gardening: Beyond Mums and Pansies

Fall container gardening isn’t just about mums and pansies. There are many other plants that can make your autumn planters stand out. By choosing a variety of vibrant plants, you can make your garden look amazing.

Designing Cohesive Fall Container Gardens

To make your fall containers look great, focus on a few colors and similar textures. This creates a cohesive look. Consider adding osteospermum, dahlias, marguerite daisies, heuchera, sedges, creeping jenny, and ornamental kale to your mix.

Using Small Pots to Accent Large Planters

Adding small pots to your fall containers can make them look more interesting. Use these pots for a single plant that catches the eye. This could be a bold foliage plant, a late-blooming flower, or an ornamental grass.

Combinations that Work

  • Mix flowering plants like osteospermum, dahlias, and marguerite daisies with ornamental foliage such as heuchera and ornamental kale.
  • Incorporate textural elements like sedges and creeping jenny to add visual interest.
  • Utilize taller, upright plants as the central focus, surrounded by lower-growing and trailing varieties.

By trying out different plants, you can make your fall containers unique and eye-catching.

fall container gardening

Fall Container Gardening

Embrace the vibrant hues of autumn by adding a mix of foliage and flowers to your fall container gardens. Choose from the bright blooms of African daisies and asters, or the bold colors of chard and chrysanthemums. Coral bells, flowering maples, and pansies are also great choices for a stunning display.

Consider adding ornamental cabbages, pigsqueaks, spurges, and stonecrops for more variety. These plants bring color and texture to your containers, making them visually appealing.

Plants for Foliage or Flowers

For a mix of foliage and flowers, think about using coral bells, flowering maples, lavender cotton, and pigsqueaks. These plants add color and texture, creating a balanced look that’s pleasing to the eye.

Plants for Height

Add height to your containers with phormium, ginger lilies, miscanthus, and muhly grass. These tall plants add drama and depth, anchoring the design and complementing the lower-growing plants.

Trailing Plants

Use trailing plants like ajuga, deadnettles, English ivy, and jasmine to add movement and elegance. These plants spill over the container edges, softening the look and creating a captivating display.

FAQ

Q: What types of tall grasses work well as centerpieces for shade container gardens?

A: Tall grasses like ‘Gracillimus’, ‘Adagio’, and ‘Morning Light’ are great for shade gardens. You can also use cut branches from trees like Fantail Willow, Birch, Dogwood, and Willow. These add height and a natural look to your containers.

Q: How can I revive my summer container gardens for fall?

A: Start by taking out the old summer plants and keeping any healthy grasses or other plants. Then, add new plants like chrysanthemums, asters, and pansies. Don’t forget to include coleus, Swiss chard, and ornamental kale for a pop of color.

Add autumn decorations like pumpkins and gourds to give it a fresh look.

Q: Beyond mums and pansies, what other plants can I use in my fall container gardens?

A: There are many plants that can make your fall containers look great. Use a few colors and textures to create a cohesive look. Add smaller pots with single plants to highlight your larger containers.

Successful containers mix flowers, foliage, grasses, and vines. Try using osteospermum, dahlias, marguerite daisies, heuchera, sedges, creeping jenny, and ornamental kale for a beautiful display.

Q: What are some colorful foliage and flowering plants that work well in fall container gardens?

A: For fall containers, consider plants like African daisies, asters, chard, and chrysanthemums. Coral bells, flowering maples, and lavender cotton also add color. Marguerite daisies, nemesias, and pansies are great for flowers.

For height, use phormium, ginger lilies, miscanthus, and muhly grass. For a trailing effect, try ajuga, deadnettles, English ivy, and jasmine.