One Easy Tip To Prepare Your Planters For Fall Aesthetics

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was on to something when he wrote, "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." This season is one of those times of year that's ripe for a reset. It helps that fall has distinct aesthetics we associate with it — cozy textures, earth-toned hues à la falling leaves, and even specific plants that thrive in cooler temps. To that end, this is the perfect time of year to give your garden planters a refresh that nods to the change of seasons.

If that's in the cards for you, there is one simple switch that can make a surprisingly big difference in the appearance of your garden: namely, streamlining which flowers you grow in containers. Although it's tempting to craft elaborate fall floral arrangements in planters, especially if you're someone who gets excited about autumn's arrival, attempting to grow lots of different plants at once can be super time-consuming and overwhelming. By selecting one or two varieties of flowers that grow densely and bloom late into fall and using them in different containers, you'll scatter pretty focal points throughout your property in a way that's relatively low-maintenance but still on-theme for the season.

Wondering which plants to choose for a pared-down fall garden that's not scrimping on aesthetic appeal? You can't go wrong with chrysanthemums, or mums (Chrysanthemum spp.), a classic pick for autumnal flowers. The garden-hardy varieties of these popular plants boast bright-colored blooms in different shades of yellow, orange, and red that start flowering in early September and last until frost appears. Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, mums are generally easy to grow and care for, although they do need a fair amount of light to thrive. Depending on where you live, they can be annuals or perennials. Pick some up from your local garden center in orange or red, plant them in pretty containers, and position them in a spot on your property that gets ample sunshine. Grow late-blooming asters (Aster spp.) as companion plants with mums for double the autumnal fun with minimal added fuss.

Hardy zinnias (Zinnia spp.) would also work well for this purpose. Native to the Southwest, Mexico, and Central America, these show-stopping annual flowers are beloved by gardeners for their cheery blooms that still go strong in the fall. They come in a wide range of brilliant colors and do well in similar growing conditions as mums, so you can also plant these two flowers together. As a bonus, growing zinnias will keep your garden full of pollinators through fall, so you'll be doing a good deed for your local ecosystem too.