12 Fall Garden Ideas That Will Give Your Landscape Autumnal Charm

From potted flowers to decorative plants, experts share their favorite ideas for fall gardens.

Although it may be difficult to say goodbye to your summer garden, its colorful flowers and blooming trees, there is something waiting for you on the other side of the heat: gardening. autumn. The cool temperatures of fall are another opportunity to show off your green thumb, whether your garden occupies a small patio or a large backyard. To help you plan your fall landscape, we'll share our best fall garden ideas, from potted flowers to seasonal vegetables.

Related: Your complete guide to fall gardening, from preparation to planting.

Surround your porch with mums

Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular fall perennials. Commonly featured as potted plants, mums are also used as porch decorations. “Nothing says fall is here like a beautiful patio full of mums,” says Rich Christakis of Ship My Plants. As long as your porch gets plenty of sunlight during the day, you can never have enough mums in the fall. There are many varieties and colors to choose from. add a little orange with Fireglow Bronze and a little red. "With Stellare. An interest in red and yellow with Avalon Golden," explains Christakis.

Information on the subject. How to make your mums bloom all fall?

Install Windows

Add color to your porch, deck or patio by filling planters with fall flowers. “Some common plants used in planters in more temperate climates include various types of asters, pansies, violas, kale or ornamental cabbages,” says Joe Rabvin, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG/Belgard.

CONTACT: The best types of flowers for planters

Plant original flowers

Many native flowers are drought and disease resistant and attract essential pollinators, making them a valuable addition to fall landscapes. “Some gold and pink stars are beautiful in the fall and grow in almost every garden,” says Raboyne. “They are perennials and should be planted in the fall or spring.” Other native species include cutleaf sedges, milkweed, and milkweed, which are beautiful and provide food and habitat for pollinators.

Try Raised Beds

Raised beds allow you to choose the composition of the soil and are less taxing on the knees and back than ground beds. Take advantage of ideal fall gardening conditions to incorporate raised beds into your landscape. “When temperatures drop and the hot summer sun ends, fall is the perfect time to try raised beds,” says Raboyne. “Be sure to place it in a location with plenty of sunlight and add mulch and compost to retain heat and moisture during the day.”

Related: 11 Raised Bed Ideas That Will Add Volume to Your Garden

Use pumpkins as temporary flower pots

Mix seasonal decor with fall gardening by using pumpkins as temporary planters. “Just dig the center, add some soil and plant,” says Raboyne. "On average, this will only last a few weeks, but it's a creative way to add interest to your landscape." As they will not last long, we recommend planting them as short-lived annuals rather than seasonally.

Use hanging baskets.

Hanging baskets are a great way to reduce curb appeal and cultivate your green thumb. Replace summer annuals with fall ones to create a sense of fall magic. “Fill hanging baskets with potted plants and flowers and decorate your patio or entryway,” says Kathy Dubow, president of Garden Media Group. “Use plants like pansies, ornamental grasses or sedums.”

Planting trees in pots

Potted plants are more than just flowers. Small trees can also be grown in containers to complement the landscape. “Consider using potted trees, like Japanese maples or dwarf fruit trees, in decorative containers to create a stunning accent in your garden or patio,” says Davey Tree arborist Lou Meyer.

Crotone growing

Make croton plants the focal point of outdoor containers. “Larger croton plants in 8-, 10-, or 12-inch-wide pots make beautiful, dramatic mixed flower arrangements,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms. “For example, croton with its mom, purple fountain grass and sedum make a beautiful picture planted together.”

Make a leaf wreath

Here's a fun idea to harvest foliage from plants already growing in your landscape. Use leaves and twigs from trees and shrubs to create seasonal decorative wreaths. “You can hang this wreath indoors or outdoors,” says Hancock.

Growing seasonal vegetables

Planting fall vegetables is just as simple (maybe even easier) as growing summer vegetables, says Carrie Spoonmore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. “Fall crops can be planted in raised beds because most are smaller,” he says. “While thermophilic plants like tomatoes cannot tolerate cold, many vegetable plants not only tolerate cold, but thrive in it.”

Create arrangements with dried flowers.

Use flowers from your fall garden to create a beautiful seasonal decoration. “Create a dried flower arrangement on the table using fall flowers such as dried hydrangeas, wheat stalks and dried leaves,” says Kelly Funk, president of Jackson & Perkins. "They can be arranged in decorative vases or containers and placed on the tablecloth with pumpkins and mini pumpkins for an added fall touch."

Show corn stalks

Whether you buy it whole at your local grocery store or grow it in your garden, corn is a great addition to any fall landscape. “Use it to highlight potted plants like ornamental grasses, asters or sedges for a natural, rustic fall touch,” says Hancock.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.