Fall is the perfect time to freshen up your outdoor space with vibrant and colorful container gardens. These easy-to-create arrangements can add a touch of beauty to your patio, deck, or porch and is easier than you think! Here’s what you need:
Choosing Your Container
The first step is to select a container that suits your style and space. Consider factors like size, material, and drainage. Get creative! Resin, pottery, plastic, tin, wash basins, kitchen sinks, or little red wagons—all types of containers are fair game! Choose a container with drainage holes or plan to drill holes in your container and remember bigger containers require less frequent watering.
Adding Your Soil
Fill your container with a high-quality potting mix specifically designed for containers. This will provide essential nutrients and promote healthy root growth. Some gardeners prefer to use an inverted pot or an empty milk jug to displace the soil in a large container, but remember that the bigger the root mass, the bigger your flowers will be.
Your Plants
The key to a successful fall container garden is choosing plants with complementary colors, textures, and growth habits. Consider the “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” method:
Thriller
Your thriller is your focal point. Choose a premium annual or perennial with great flowers or foliage. For the fall, large mums or beautiful ornamental grass are just a few good ideas for your fall centerpiece.
Fillers
Your fillers are accent plants you will want to plant around your centerpiece—usually three to five plants depending on the size of your chosen container. Use plants that contrast with the centerpiece for interest and variety. Fall plants like colorful pansies and smaller mums or ornamental cabbage and kale make great options for this.
Spillers
Your spillers are typically cascading, running, or vining plants that can be placed in between your fillers and will tumble over the edge of the container. Options include colorful calibrachoa, wave petunias, ajuga, sweet potato vine, trailing sedums, and more. Ideally, the soil will not be seen after a very short time. All they’ll see is color.
Maintenance Tips
- Watering: Water your container garden regularly, especially during dry periods. Check the soil moisture regularly and adjust watering accordingly.
- Fertilizing: Feed your plants with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks to promote healthy growth and flowering.
- Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering and prevent pests and diseases.
- Winter Protection: In Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, where winters can be chilly, consider moving your container garden indoors to a sheltered area or covering it with a frost blanket to protect it from freezing temperatures.
Stock Up on Fall Gardening Essentials at Meadows Farms
To create a stunning fall container garden of your own, visit any Meadows Farms location to find a wide selection of high-quality plants, containers, and gardening supplies. Our knowledgeable staff can provide expert guidance and help you choose the perfect plants for your outdoor space.
