As we say goodbye to August and embrace the cooler days of autumn, it is a great time to shift the focus from summer annuals and perennials to more seasonally appropriate garden displays.

• Assess your container plants and take out anything that looks dead or miserable.  If the plant looks borderline, a little deadheading and removal of old/dead leaves will encourage new growth.
• Inventory the spaces that need to be filled and replace the old plants with new ones in fall colors of red, orange, purple and yellow. This can include but is not restricted to the following: chrysanthemums, asters, dusty miller, pansies, petunias, rudbeckia, heuchera, and ornamental peppers. Also, consider the use of ornamental grasses, cabbages and kale. Helianthemum, creeping thyme, bacopa, and plumbago are some choices for plants that spill over the edge of a container.

• Remember to note the light requirements of shade or sun for your new selections.
• When adding new plants to the holes in your containers, be sure to add a little new potting soil.
• Apply water soluble fertilizer at half strength every four to six weeks.
• Since your plants will not expand much during the fall, you can pack the plants into the container so they look abundant.
• Use fall décor like pumpkins and gourds to add a touch of seasonal interest.

For more information on fall and winter containers, check out these videos by Laura Eyer: Container Planting (5:00)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHnYV-kgJ0c

Creating Fall & Winter Containers (44:58) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2JryemlhUA

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Click here for a printable pdf of this article. Written by Cheryl Borden, August 2024. Photos courtesy of Sherry Sheng.