The air is getting crisper, the leaves are starting to change - fall is on its way! There are many ways to welcome autumn with style and rejuvenating your landscape is definitely one of them. While many plants and flowers fade as summer turns to autumn, there are plenty of gorgeous options that shine in the cooler weather. With a little planning, you can keep your garden looking lovely all season long. In this post, we'll explore some of the best flowers to plant for stunning fall landscaping.
- Cool Weather Bloomers
Some of the most popular flowers for fall gardens are asters, mums, and pansies. These plants are hardy, standing up well to frosty nights and fall rains.
Asters come in a variety of colors like purple, pink, red, and white. They start blooming in late summer and last well into the fall, especially with a bit of afternoon shade. Asters pair nicely with classic fall flowers like chrysanthemums and look fantastic in containers.
Mums, or chrysanthemums, are practically synonymous with autumn. They come in a rainbow of colors like orange, bronze, yellow, lavender, and burgundy. Wait until after the summer heat has passed to plant your mums so they'll last longer into fall. Place them in full sun with well-draining soil.
Cheery pansies offer a wide selection of color options too. Go for a mix of pansy varieties to make a statement in your fall landscaping. They can handle light frosts and even bounce back after being covered with snow. Be sure to water them during dry spells.
- Ornamental Kale and Cabbage
For unique colors and fun texture, look to ornamental kale and cabbage. These compact plants are ideal for containers and garden borders. Depending on the variety, leaf colors range from red and purple to pink, white, and green with frilly edges.
As edibles, kale and cabbage can't withstand intense summer heat. But planted in the fall, they'll last through winter in many climates. Place them in full to part sun with moist, fertile soil. Remove faded leaves to encourage new growth as you embrace sustainable living.
- Hardy Hibiscus
You can enjoy large, tropical blooms even as the weather cools by planting hardy hibiscus. Flower colors include pink, red, white, and mauve. Situate these moisture-loving plants in full sun to part shade areas. Wait to prune them back until spring.
To boost winter hardiness, choose hibiscus cultivars like the 'Kopper King' with compact growth habits. Mulch the roots well or grow them in containers that can be moved indoors if needed. The beautiful hibiscus flowers will brighten up your yard well into the fall season.
- Ornamental Grasses
Add texture and visually interesting motion to your landscaping with ornamental grasses. Many varieties like maiden grass, fountain grass, and switch grass shine in the fall. The plumes and stalks provide great vertical accents when paired with full mums, asters, and kale.
Go for grasses in shades of gold, red, bronze, and purple for the biggest fall impact. Most ornamental grasses prefer full sun and minimal watering once established. Cut them back in late winter before the new growth emerges.
- Vibrant Vines
Another way to infuse fall gardens with color is by incorporating vines like clematis, passionflower, and vines. These climbing plants put on a show-stopping display come autumn.
Plant a clematis that blooms on new wood to see abundant flowers in the fall. Options like the Clematis 'Jackmanii Superba' produce rich purple blossoms. Give them a trellis, arbor, or fence to climb up.
Exotic passionflowers, known for their unique tropical flowers, bloom prolifically in the fall. The Passiflora 'Incense' variety has flowers that change from purple to blue to white. Site passionflower vines in sunny spots with well-drained yet moist soil.
For intensely colored fall foliage, plant a Boston ivy like the Parthenocissus tricuspidata. Its leaves transform to vivid crimson. Be sure to situate Boston ivy on walls or fences so its adhesive tendrils have something to cling to.
- Welcoming Fall Planters
One of the easiest ways to get gorgeous fall flair is by filling planters and pots with season-appropriate flowers and plants. Go bold with a combo of orange or purple kale, pansies, grasses, and classic red and yellow mums.
For a chic, minimalist look, stick to a single variety like ornamental cabbage or grass paired with complementary foliage plants. Accent with fun fall touches like mini pumpkins, pine cones, and acorns.
When designing your fall containers, opt for weather-resistant plants that can withstand cooler nights, rain showers, and even light frosts. Choose cool hues that complement autumn decor. Switch out your summer planters for fresh fall flowers for an instant outdoor space makeover.
Autumn Landscaping Tips and Tricks
Beyond selecting pretty fall bloomers, there are other simple tips for improving your landscaping for autumn:
- Add elevation with planter boxes: Create chic elevated planters for your porch or patio. Fill them with ornamental kale, pansies, asters, and flowing grasses.
- Incorporate autumn fruits:Mini pumpkins, ornamental gourds, and berry branches make fun additions to fall gardens and containers. Go for unique pumpkin and gourd varieties in colors like white, blue-green, and speckled.
- Leave ornamental seed heads:Let the dried seed heads from perennials like coneflowers and sedums stand through fall and winter. Their architectural shapes look gorgeous dusted in frost or snow. Coneflower seeds provide food for birds too!
- Try some fall division:Early fall is an ideal time to divide crowded clumps of perennials like hostas, daylilies, and grasses. Replant divisions to expand your beds or pot them up.
- Add autumn accents:Extend your fall landscaping to patios, decks, and entryways. Incorporate rustic touches like straw bales and scarecrows or modern flair with stone planters and metal art.
- Prepare beds for winter:After frost kills off annuals and perennials, cut back dead foliage and stems. Compost or dispose of debris to minimize disease issues. Then add a fresh layer of mulch to insulate plant roots.
With a selection of hardy, cold-tolerant plants, and some basic seasonal care, you can keep your landscape looking fabulous into fall and beyond. What flowers will you plant this year to welcome autumn?
As you plan out your fall flowers and outdoor accents, don't forget to extend the makeover inside your home as well. Fossil Blu's gorgeous bathroom farmhouse sinks are the perfect way to incorporate natural textures into your home. Contact us today to discuss our sink collections and to help find the perfect sink to complement your vision.