Autumn offers us an opportunity to freshen up container plantings by adding some showy plants that will shine all through the fall and winter seasons. With cooler temperatures and rain on the horizon, our summer annuals simply run out of gas at some point. It is time to redesign pots with fresh foliage, textures and winter flower power that will make them pop for the coming months until spring arrives.
Let me start by stating the obvious, I like plants of all kinds and appreciate each one’s unique ability to thrive in a garden container. Whether the pot is on my patio, deck, entryway, or out in the landscape, containers are the way for me to flex my gardening style. You should be doing the same by incorporating specimens that make you smile when you walk by them. Containers serve dual purposes for me, and they can for you as well. First and foremost, they add interest around the home and garden. They can also serve as a rotating plant supply; a hardy plant is purchased to cultivate in a container, then later on it can be transplant into the garden somewhere and a fresh one can be used to replace it for a new container look. This is the perfect way to feed any gardener’s addiction to leafy goodies while continuing to help the landscape evolve with time. Remember, there is always room for one more pot somewhere… right?
First a couple tips to begin the rebuilding process for fall containers:
Great container gardens start with quality soil and proper drainage. Utilize a well-draining organic potting mix (i.e. ‘Edna’s Best’ from E.B. Stone Organics, like I use) and nothing labeled with “moisture control”, or the like. These hold too much water, inevitably making plants suffer long term and crash from being too wet.
Speaking of soil… old, tired, existing soil is never ideal either. Be sure to replace old soil from pots, or at least freshen it up. Often permanent plants (if present) can be carefully dug around and saved when removing tired summer annuals. Be sure to take out, as best you can, all of the old roots from your tired plants. If you are starting everything new, replace the soil entirely, your new specimens will thank you immensely.
Fertilizing is always tough in the fall since plants need to slow down yet also be coaxed into blooming and staying healthy. I would avoid pouring on the liquid foods we often use in the summer and instead use a milder, organic granular food mixed in with the new soil or added on the surface. Something like ‘Sure Start’ from E.B. Stone Organics is best.
Don’t forget bulbs! We talked a bit about this last week, but adding in a few bulbs when redoing your containers will be quite showy come springtime, and then these of course could be removed after flowering and added to the landscape for longer term enjoyment.
With container gardens, it is always pertinent to start with one simple rule: make sure to have a thriller, spiller and filler. Each pot should have a “thriller”, something that is exciting and catches your eye, adding interest and serving as the focal point. Then we utilize “fillers” to surround the thriller and fill in the body of the pot. Finally comes “spillers”, specimens that perhaps trail or grow prostrate and cascade along the perimeter of the container. A well-balanced design will contain all of these elements and utilize plants that offer, color, foliage, contrast, varying textures and some flower power as well, even in the darker days of fall and winter. The size of your pot will dictate the scale of what you choose, and many plants can serve multiple purposes. For now our focus is on fall and winter, so here are a few options that will look spectacular over the coming months…
Pansies/Violas: The sturdiest flower power that you can find to last through the fall, winter, and into spring. They may freeze into little ice cubes in a cold spell, but once thawed they bounce right back and keep doing their thing. A must for winter bloom in all pots.
Cabbages/Kales: In all honesty these are not my favorite, but they do represent the perfect example of a fall “filler” option with great foliage and they will keep their color and texture all winter long.
Hellebores: The perfect example of a reusable plant from container to landscape. These will sport evergreen foliage, some are even variegated, and also bloom reliably no matter what the weather is doing to them. A nice “filler” for foliage, texture, and various flower color options, plus a great selection can be found now.
Heucheras: This is one of my favs for sure, and honestly every pot I have ever made has one mixed in, without exception. There is literally a rainbow of foliage color options, regardless of whether you are creating for a sun or shade location, there is one to complement your pot. Offering texture, evergreen foliage and bloom, these are the perfect “filler” and can be used in your yard later.
Grasses: An excellent option for both color and texture. Evergreen varieties can be planted with many corresponding colors and habits as well. All of these can be used as a “filler”, or even a “spiller”, to softly fall over the edge of pots. Black Mondo Grass, various Sedges, Blue Fescue, Pheasant Grass, Oat Grass and many more offer distinctive yellows, blues and greens for any fall container.
Heathers: These can either be winter/spring blooming varieties (Erica or Irish Heath) or varieties utilized for winter foliage color (Calluna or Scotch Heather). Either kind works nicely as a “filler” and will add excellent texture and bright foliage to a sunny container garden.
Wintergreen: One of the quintessential winter plants, these low evergreen beauties work nicely as a “spiller”. After blooming in the fall, they offer red or variegated foliage during the winter and burst out large red berries for the holidays. ‘Cherry Berries’ (XL red berries) and ‘Winter Splash’ (pink/white/green variegated foliage) are two of the best that I have seen.
“Spiller” Ideas: Think trailing habit here, with the ability to hang down and complement and contrast with your fillers and thrillers as they grow. Variegated Ivies, variegated Vinca and trailing Euonymus are examples with interesting leaves that will last all through the winter. Even some others like Creeping Jenny, Creeping Charlie, and Wire Vine do nicely as long as we don’t have a super cold winter.
“Thriller” Ideas: This can be just about anything! If you are like me, maybe a Japanese Maple for a few years, or a taller grass, or something evergreen and variegated. For fall, I would focus on something either evergreen or a plant with bark color. Maybe it is a winter blooming Camellia, Leucothoe, or Mahonia for shade. Maybe it is a Nandina, Euonymus, or even simple boxwood for sun. Explore your options and you will find the perfect choice for you.
I encourage all gardeners to walk around and investigate your container gardens. What is looking tired? How long has that plant been in the pot and it is time to transplant it into the landscape for a second lease on life? It is an ideal time of year to do all of this, just as I do, so that your containers look fresh and vibrant until next spring. A quick visit to the garden center this time of year will open your eyes to all of the possibilities for fall and winter. Speak with a Professional Horticulturist about your specific needs and allow them to help you select the right plants for the right pots. When you are pondering all your options, always remember that this is your container, so show your style and do your thing!
