Fall Container Garden Ideas

 

Fall is the time when you pull out the summer annuals from your container gardens and replace them with colorful fall shrubs and flowers.

September and October have been warm here in the central states, and my annuals are still blooming. However, the foliage is starting to fade due to the cooler nights.

Today I removed the annuals from the containers and refreshed the soil by adding compost to prepare for fall plantings.

In the fall, I like to add color and interest to my container gardens by planting shrubs, pansies, grasses, groundcovers, and chrysanthemums. I also enjoy planting urns of purple and yellow cold‑hardy pansies. Pansies are a wonderful way to add long‑lasting color to your fall containers.

These plants will create a container that lasts until Thanksgiving. If your winters are mild, the container may last throughout the winter season and keep your home’s entrance warm and inviting.

Watch: Creative fall container garden ideas

Tips

• Replace fading mums: When your chrysanthemum blooms fade, remove the plant and replace it with a fresh one to maintain continuous color. Plant the spent mum in your garden.

• Add dwarf coral red barberry: This compact shrub adds rich fall color. It features orange spring flowers and ornamental bluish‑black fruit in fall.

• Try caramel coral bells (Heuchera): One of my favorite fall plants. The foliage turns gold, orange, and pink‑variegated in autumn, making it a standout in containers.

• Accent with pumpkins and gourds: Place pumpkins around your fall containers to create a warm, seasonal display.

Elephant ear containers look beautiful in the fall as long as there is no hard frost. Pair them with yellow chrysanthemums for a bold seasonal look. Leave the elephant ears in the container until it’s time to cut them back, dig them up, or bring them indoors.