While it can be difficult to say goodbye to your summer garden and its colorful flowers and blooming trees, there’s something waiting on the other side of the season’s heat: fall gardening. Autumn’s cooler temperatures open up a new opportunity to flex your green thumb, whether your garden takes up a small balcony or a sprawling backyard. To help you plan your autumn landscape, we tapped experts for their best fall garden ideas, from container flowers to seasonal vegetables.
Line Your Porch With Mums
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Chrysanthemums are one of fall’s most recognizable perennials. Commonly displayed as container plants, mums also double as front porch décor. “Nothing says ‘fall is here’ like a beautiful mum-filled front porch,” says Rich Christakes of Ship My Plants. As long as your porch gets plenty of sunshine during the day, you can never have too many mums in the fall.” There are so many varieties and colors to choose from—add a burst of orange with Fireglow Bronze, a pop of red with Stellar Red, and yellow interest with Avalon Golden, says Christakes.
Install Window Boxes
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Add color to your front porch, balcony, or patio by filling window boxes with fall blooms. “Some common plants used for window boxes in more mild climates include varieties of asters, pansies, violas, and ornamental kale or cabbages,” says Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG/Belgard.
Plant Native Flowers
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Many native flowers are drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and attract essential pollinators, all factors that make them a worthwhile addition to your autumn landscape. “Native goldenrod and asters look amazing in the fall and will grow in almost every zone,” says Raboine. “These are perennials and need to be planted in the fall or spring.” Other natives include cut-leaf coneflowers, milkweed, and ironweed, which all look great and provide food and habitat for pollinators.
Experiment With Raised Beds
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Raised garden beds allow you to choose your soil composition and are easier on your knees and back than in-ground beds. Use fall’s optimal gardening conditions as an opportunity to include raised beds in your landscape. “With cooler temperatures and the hot summer sun winding down, fall is a great time to experiment with raised beds,” says Raboine. “Be sure to place them in an area that receives a good deal of sun and add mulch and compost to help retain the day’s heat and moisture.”
Use Pumpkins as Makeshift Planters
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Blend seasonal décor with fall gardening by using pumpkins as makeshift flower pots. “Just hollow out the center, add some soil, and plant,” says Raboine. “They will last a few weeks on average, but it’s a creative way to add some interest to your landscape.” Since they won’t last long, we recommend planting short-lived annuals in lieu of plants that last the entire season.
Utilize Hanging Baskets
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Hanging baskets are a great way to enhance curb appeal and nurture your green thumb. Swap out your summer annual hanging plants for fall plants for a touch of autumnal charm. “Fill hanging baskets with fall plants and flowers and line your porch or your entryway,” says Katie Dubow, president Garden Media Group. “Use plants like pansies, ornamental grasses, or fall-blooming sedum.”
Grow Potted Trees
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Container plants don’t just mean flowers—small trees can also be grown in vessels as a way to fill in your landscape. “Consider using potted trees like Japanese maples or dwarf fruit trees in decorative containers for a striking fall focal point on your patio or porch,” says Lou Meyer, arborist for Davey Tree.
Grow Croton Plants
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Make croton plants the centerpiece of your outdoor containers. “Larger croton plants, in 8-, 10-, or 12-inch-wide pots make for dramatic beautiful mixed planters,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. “For example, a croton with a mum, purple fountain grass, and trailing sedum planted together makes for a beautiful display.”
Make Foliage Garland
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Here’s a fun idea that involves harvesting foliage from the plants already growing in your landscape: use the leaves and a few branches from trees and shrubs to create decorative seasonal garland. “You can hang this garland indoors or out,” says Hancock.
Grow Seasonal Vegetables
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Growing fall vegetables is just as easy (maybe easier) as it is to grow summer ones, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app. “Fall crops can be planted in raised beds since most are on the smaller side,” she says. “While heat-loving plants like tomatoes won’t tolerate cold weather, many vegetable plants not only handle the cold, but thrive in it.”
Make Dried Flower Arrangements
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Use flowers from your fall garden to create a beautiful centerpiece that calls to the season. “Create dried flower tablescape arrangements with fall flowers such as dried hydrangeas, wheat stalks, and dried leaves,” Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins. “These can be placed in vases or decorative containers and placed on a table runner along with gourds and mini pumpkins for an additional touch of fall.”
Display Corn Stalks
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Whether you buy it fully formed from a local retailer or grow it in your own backyard, corn is a great addition to any fall landscape. Use it to accent potted plants like ornamental grasses, asters, or heather for a rustic and natural fall display, says Hancock.
