Fall Planters

If you still have summer flowers in your container gardens it's time to transition to fall blooms. Start by removing and composting past season annuals. If you happen to have any perennials in those containers now is a great time to plant them in the ground, or pass them on to someone who will.

Fall Flowering Plants

There are a wide array of fall flowering and autumnal foliage plants. Flowering annuals to consider are petunias, rudbeckia, marigolds, celosia, bidens, lantana, fall pansies, strawflowers, asters, and of course, mums, which come in a wide array of colors to suit your container design preferences.

Don't Forget Foliage

The best container designs have foliage mixed in. Some fantastic options for fall foliage in our nursery right now are kales and cabbages, which come in different shades of greens and purples. Euphorbia, sedum, coleus, ornamental peppers, grasses and heuchera are other great options offering different shades from lime green to dark purple. Mixing foliage plants with flowering plants will add nice texture to the container as well.

Thrillers, Fillers, and Spillers

Use this rule of thumb when designing your container garden. Thrillers are tall striking plants that catch the eye and create height in the design. Think grasses or millet. Fillers are mounding plants that take up space in the planter. These can be flowering but don't have to be. Fillers could be mums, heuchera, and bidens. Some fillers such as petunias and calibrachoa spill a little as well which can create a beautiful effect. And lastly, your spillers are plants that cascade off the sides of the planter and create interest down the side of the plant. Some options here are sweet potato vine and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’.

Thinking Outside the Box

There are plenty of nice additions outside the realm of plants. Consider using pumpkins, gourds, straw, or other seasonal décor items. A tip for using pumpkins and gourds in the planter is to place them in a plastic pot or saucer, this will prevent the bottoms from rotting.

Add Contrast!

What makes the most spectacular planters interesting is contrast! Consider using burgundy-colored grasses like Pennisetum 'Rubrum' with lime green foliage like heuchera or sedum. However, be cautious about adding too many different colors and textures as this can make the planter look messy and chaotic. A general rule of thumb it to have too main colors that complement each other, and an unexpected color that adds contrast to the design. Design with the pot in mind too. The pot can compliment the rest but shouldn’t be stealing the show.

Thanks for reading to the end! If you stick to these main principles, you'll have standout planters that will be sure to impress! No planter? No problem! We have a wide array of planters to choose from. And remember, our team at New England Nurseries is always here to help. Just come on down and we can help bring your vision into life!