Fall is a great time to use container gardens to enhance your home’s curb appeal. Many plants perform well in cool temperatures while offering beautiful color and texture. Here are a few top picks for gorgeous fall container gardens.
Mums may seem an obvious choice for fall decoration, but don’t discount these favorites. They come in a multitude of colors and are affordable. Pair them with a contrasting shape or texture, such as spiky ornamental grass, to take this old standby to the next level. If you used coleus or other leafy plant in your summer containers, adding mums will provide a pop of color and texture in fall. Pro tip: Place small mums inside hollowed out pumpkins for an attractive new take on a traditional fall porch design.
Ornamental cabbages have lush green foliage with purple, pink, white, or yellow rosettes at the center. One of the best features of cabbages: Color intensifies at lower temperatures and lasts through the winter in warmer regions. Use them in containers with mums or pansies in contrasting or complimentary colors to add sophistication to the outside of your home. Place them in full sun and water well, especially in advance of a freeze.
Coral bells (Heuchera) are hardy and easy to care for. They do well in a wide range of light conditions and temperatures. Coral bells have beautiful mounding foliage that comes in a wide variety of colors. They look great alone or as a complement to other plants, including mums.
Verbena is an excellent choice for container gardens. It produces beautiful trailing blooms all spring and fall, well after a first frost. An assortment of flower colors from pale pinks to crimson, deep blues, and purples are available. Verbena doesn’t need a lot of water or maintenance. Keep it looking great by trimming spent blooms. Depending on the look you want, use verbena alone or with other fall foliage such as flowering kale, ornamental cabbage, or lamb’s ear.
Asters produce beautiful star-shaped blooms in bright colors throughout autumn. They are available in many varieties with white, pink, blue, and purple flowers. For best results, plant these perennials in moist soil with good drainage and place in full sun. Use asters to provide a much-needed pop of color in your fall container gardens.
Lamb’s ear has soft, silvery gray leaves that beg to be touched. It is durable and tolerates a wide range of conditions and temperatures. In most zones, lamb’s ear is considered evergreen. With good drainage, lamb’s ear thrives in containers. As a companion to dark foliage or bright blooms, it looks lush and inviting.
