Creating and maintaining dazzling container designs for the cooler season doesn’t have to be a huge investment of time or money
container are the eat up touch in any garden and can be fill for every season . Summer is typically seen as the tiptop of planting for containers , but that is just a starting spot . While many see Chrysanthemum morifolium ( Chrysanthemumcvs . ) , pansies ( Violacvs . ) , and cosmetic Gunter Grass as the go - to options for fall containers , I lean toward materials that are outside the box . With cooler temperatures and inadequate days , plant are not in growth fashion , and I find my clients have misplace interest in lacrimation and waiting for plants to fill in . They want instant gratification . Let ’s appear at some choice for drop container gardens that make living simple and still provide the look we need this prison term of twelvemonth .
Dried and artificial materials
Faux pumpkins and gourds
I am a Brobdingnagian fan of using artificial and dry materials in the container I install in the drop . Faux pumpkins and gourds are my favorite , as they are lightweight and can be staged in layers when attach to floral sticks , creating a dramatic display with minimal sweat . Not ingest to worry about critters munching on your piece of work is another advantage . Many times I tried using real pumpkin , and they have been consumed by squirrels . imitation gourds also do not freeze down or become mushy and can be used more than once . When the season is over , just store them in tubs . Combine them with other materials , such as dried cornstalk and cotton fiber pods , and you ’re bind to create a salient showing .
Eucalyptus leaves
There are times when a bit more refinement is guarantee . The salvia fleeceable of eucalypt leaves is a soft complement to the creamy - white and tan materials , the square containers , and the orange pumpkins . I love natural desiccated eucalyptus but find that contrived stems are more flexible and take into account me the creativity to flex and meander more exactly without the stems snapping .
Dried sorghum and sumac
Visually powerful , but unmanageable to source , are dried sorghum and shumac . Their conceited seed heads allow a coarse and bold financial statement , quite the inverse of cornstalk . Used in place of or in addition to them , they supplement the appearance of any fall composition , although I wish well they were easy to discover and not so short . Also , the sorghum is a number brittle and must be used with care .
Redtwig dogwood
Redtwig dogwood stems , traditionally used in winter arrangements , are also appropriate in gloaming container . They can be piled into the center to create a bright cerise column or sprinkled throughout an organisation to sum texture and accent pieces . Their lustrous cherry color pairs well with the other Graeco-Roman colors of the season like sensationalistic and orangish .
Lotus pods
I hump to use sacred lotus cod for their dark , alien form . In containers with vibrant reds and oranges , they produce a moody counterpoint to the rich colors . They also can be employ in their natural or contrived form , but a dried lotus pod could last for age if it is handled and stored properly . Lotus seedpod are prosperous to spray - paint , relieve oneself your design possibilities endless .
Underused perennials
The examples express have no living plant material , and I do n’t mean to intimate this is the only answer . A mixture of both is sure as shooting an alternative and can work if your gist is coif on having some resilient plants . Your summertime container may have some moth-eaten - hardy herbs or leafage accent plants that will continue to grow until the temperature reach freezing . If so , perhaps they could be moved to allow some junior-grade textural pursuit . Keep in mind , of course , that when it really gets cold , they are done for the time of year . The following are two I find interesting and would consider using myself .
Purple sage
( Salviaofficinalis‘Purpurascens ’ , Zones 5–8 )
majestic sage is an evergreen perennial that can be used as a culinary herb , with bushy , hoar - purple leaves . It will allow a light Robert Lee Frost , and it can be a adorable addition to soften the edges of a container in fall . The pungent aroma is a toothsome incentive .
‘Sea Salt’ artemisia
( Artemisialudoviciana‘Sea Salt ’ , Zones 5–9 )
‘ Sea Salt ’ artemisia reveals an enthralling presentation of fuzzy , silvery leaves that accent anything it rest against . It would work as a nice filler between spherical pumpkins , cloak over the edges .
In a sheltered location , either one of these leafage plant life may last until Thanksgiving or after . Just be trusted to irrigate them , even if the rest of the container does n’t need it .
Find more breathing in for your fall container :
And for more Midwest regional reports , dawn here .
Discuss this and any other gardening topic in ourMidwest gardening assembly .
Marti Neely , FAPLD , have and operates Marti Neely Design and Associates in Omaha , Nebraska .
Photos , except where noted : Marti Neely
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Planting in a Post - Wild World : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
Fine horticulture have a commission for item buy through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programme .
Gardener ’s Log Book from NYBG
Corona ® Multi - Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel
Get our latest tips , how - to article , and instructional video sent to your inbox .
sign up you up …
Related Articles
Low-Light Indoor Plants with Unique Foliage
The Best Dwarf Evergreens for Winter Containers
Cold-Weather Combinations for Fall Containers
10 Tips for Transitioning to Autumn Garden Containers
Join Fine Gardening for a costless engaging springy webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …
When I spot a special sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …
When we only prioritize flora we need over plants our landscape painting needs , each time of year is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinch , lachrymation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be heedful when you infix the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a span …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access members get more
Sign up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional cognitive content , plus the rest of the appendage - only content library .
Start Free Trial
Fall containers don’t have to mean a lot of heavy lifting. Faux gourds, dried corn stalks and cotton pods come together to create a lively display.
Get complete site access to expert advice , regional substance , and more , plus the photographic print magazine .
begin your loose trial
Already a member?sign in
If you’re looking to add some greenery to your containers but still want a no-maintenance design, artificial eucalyptus can be manipulated to your heart’s desire.
A staghorn sumac (Rhustyphina, Zones 3–8) is not only a great addition to your garden but also a great source for seed heads that look sensational in a fall container.
Redtwig dogwood and lotus pods are often found in winter arrangements, but their colors and shapes also work well in the autumn landscape.
Photo: Jason Jorgensen
Photo: millettephotomedia.com
