Make Your Entrance Feel Welcoming
Seasonal containers are one of the easiest ways to make the entrance to your home feel inviting. Today I am sharing how to build a thoughtfully designed fall container that will last until the first frost, which here in zone six is usually around the third week of October. I use a repeatable framework that you can use any time of year. First, consider the vessel you’re going to plant in, the architecture of your home, your surrounding landscape, and the colors you love. Layer in some height, texture, and movement with my “thrill, fill, and spill” approach, and you’ve created something that feels intentional and uniquely yours!
Start With The Container
Before choosing your plants, start with the vessel. The container sets the tone for the entire arrangement. I recommend selecting one with enough presence that it still looks beautiful even when the plants aren’t at their peak. Using something unexpected like my vintage garden urn, or a galvanized bucket or basket can give a container that collected-over-time feeling that can be much more interesting than a run-of-the-mill pot.
Create Your Composition
Remember “Thrill, Fill & Spill”
Once you’ve selected your container, use the “thrill, fill, and spill” formula to create a balanced arrangement. The combination of height, fullness, and trailing foliage is a no-fail way to create a dynamic container that feels abundant.
The Thrill: Add Height
Your “thrill” is the element that gives your arrangement height and draws the eye upward.
In my shade container, I used a fern that I had on display all spring and summer long. It is a hardworking plant that will keep going until the frost.
For fall containers, consider:
- Ornamental grasses
- Ornamental Millet
- Rudbeckia Sedum “Autumn Joy”
- Dwarf conifers
- Ornamental kale
- Architectural foliage like branches
The Fill: Layer in Color & Texture
The “fill” plants create the fullness of your container and are where you can introduce more seasonal color.
The obvious choice in fall is chrysanthemums. They come in a myriad of gorgeous colors and really are a mainstay for seasonal beauty. However, there are several other overlooked cold-hardy annuals and perennials that will add color to your containers until temps get below 40 degrees.
I encourage you to try:
- Pansies and violas
- Celosia
- Heuchera
- Cabbage
- Sedums
- Asters
- Snapdragons
- Dianthus
The Spill: Let It Trail Over the Edge
The final layer is your “spill”—something that gently trails over the edge of the container and softens the arrangement. In my container, I used lamium, which is a perennial groundcover.
Other great options:
- Creeping Jenny
- Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
- English ivy
- Sweet potato vine
- Sweet alyssum
- Ornamental peppers
Be Extra: Add Pretty Details
Give your fall container arrangement some extra style points with a seasonal flourish such as:
- Dried Seed Pods
- Wheat Sheaves
- Pinecones
- Dried Hydrangea Stems
- Dried ornamental corn
- Gourds and pumpkins
A Few Simple Tips for Keeping Your Container Beautiful
- Pay attention to sunlight your container will receive and group plants with similar growing requirements together.
- Use quality potting soil
- Make sure your container has drainage
- Water deeply after planting. Continue checking moisture regularly. Even when temperatures cool down, containers can dry out quickly, particularly in a sunny or exposed location.
- Deadhead spent blooms
- You may have noticed, I like to mix perennials in my containers. That’s because after they’ve past their prime, I can plant them in the ground and enjoy them next year!
Remember that your fall container’s beauty is in its seasonality. So have fun letting yourself experiment with color, texture, and unexpected combinations that give you all the fall feels and welcome guests at your door! If you need a little more help bringing your vision to life, I am always happy to help you take the guesswork out of choosing the right plants, colors, containers, and finishing touches to create a thoughtfully designed display.