Shutterstock
Fall is almost here! Break out the pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters, and decorative gourds! If you want to give your home a quick boost of autumnal spirit, here are three project ideas for fall container gardens, plus a few gorgeous plants that look their best in fall.
Nothing says “fall” quite like a pumpkin. Instead of carving a jack-o-lantern, hollow out a pumpkin to create a planter. Just place your store-bought plants still in their protective plastic pots right inside! Instant autumn décor.
Don’t forget to save those pumpkin seeds for roasting, though. They’re a delicious and nutritious snack.
Succulents are amazing in so many ways. We love their jewel-like colors, incredible ability to grow just about anywhere, and the almost magical way they propagate new plants from even the smallest cuttings.
You can create a living wreath of succulents using a sphagnum moss wreath form from the craft store and cuttings of various colorful succulent plants. Soak the moss and then make small holes to stick your cuttings into. You’ll need to let it chill out for about 6 weeks on a flat surface to allow the cuttings to root, or you can use greening pins (like bobby pins for plants) to hold the cuttings in place if you want to hang it up sooner.
Strawberry pots are tall, narrow planters with smaller holes down the sides. These are designed to grow strawberries (duh), but you can also use them to create an incredible waterfall of autumn flowers. Petunias will work well for this project, as will pansies or violas. You can get a flat (or two) from your local hardware store’s garden section. Simply fill the planter with potting soil and then plant the flowers in each of the holes as well as the top.
Coral bells—also called heuchera—are fascinating and hardy plants. Their foliage comes in a huge variety of colors—think black-purple or fluorescent green—and their dainty flowers are quite pretty to look at. The darker varieties make an especially appealing Halloween-themed planter. Coral Bells will thrive in shadier spots.
Kale—it’s not just for dinner! Ornamental kale forms giant, flower-like plants in shades ranging from fuchsia to dark purple to emerald green. They make lovely centerpieces for a fall container garden. Just don’t eat them, okay?
Hardy and profoundly flower-ful (yes, I just made that word up), mums are the quintessential fall plant. But did you know that they’re perennials? If you take good care of them, mums will come back year after year for more bountiful blooms.
The name says it all, doesn’t it? To give your container garden some impressive height, this ornamental grass is a great choice. It grows to about 2-3 feet tall and sends up colorful purple-maroon plumes. The grass also looks great dried once the growing season is over.
