Are you ready for cooler evenings and a new splash of color? Plants in containers have been feeling the summer heat and humidity. Planters from May and June will have overgrown and leggy plants now. Here are some tips for freshening up those front porches and back decks with fall splendor.

Easy as 1-2-3

1. First, assess what you like and don’t like about your container gardens right now. Maybe you have a beautiful grass, but the filler petunias are spent and the coleus is overgrown. You don’t have to replace every plant if some still look good and are tolerant of cooler fall temperatures.
2. Next, pull out the plants you wish to replace. Use garden tools if the roots are entwined. Loosen the existing soil and roots, filling in fresh potting soil as needed.
3. Then, add your favorite fall flowers! All plants in our Annuals Department this time of year are cool tolerant and will last til frost with the proper care. Water them in and continue to water as needed.

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

The Growing Place Naperville and Aurora locations offer a wide variety of fall annuals that do well in cooler weather. Remember to have a focal point plant placed in the center or back of the pot. Consider Celosia, Kale, or annual grasses for Thrillers. Filler plants are added to provide eye-catching color and texture. Marigolds, Rudbeckia, Euphorbia, Alyssum, Pansies, Violas, ornamental peppers, 4” mums, and cabbages all come to mind. Soften the container edge with Spillers such as Lysmachia, Calibrachoa, or Wire Vine.

Mums, Pumpkins, Gourds

Our mums are grown in 4″, 8″, 10″, and 16″ containers as well as hanging baskets. Mums can be set alongside containers, bales of hay, cornstalks, pumpkins, and gourds for a fall display. The 8″ and 10″ mums will fit into most emptied containers you may already have at home. The 4” mums work best when planted with other fall annuals in a container. Pumpkins and gourds can fill in holes and add a festive touch once outdoor temps are more steadily cooler. Birch branches, natural accents such as twigs and bittersweet, and preserved fall leaves are additional options for containers.

Container gardening is a statement honoring what nature has in store each season. Draw eyes to your front porch or back patio this fall with fresh, cold tolerant plants to last until frost. When you’re ready to change your container over to winter greens, sticks, and berries or bows, visit again and we will help you choose the accents that match your decorating style.