As we go from summer to fall here on the East coast, some of the plants in our containers look shabby or have died. I have a few ideas to help you give them a fresh look as we go into Fall. The first thing you need to do is remove all the dead or dying plants and assess what is salvageable. Here are five ways you can keep your outdoor containers looking great:
1. Add ornamental grass for height and color.
If your vines still look good and all your annuals are gone, replace them with a lovely ornamental grass. One of my favorites is the Purple Fountain Grass because of its beautiful color, texture, and height.
2. Fill empty spots with branches or twigs.
If your container needs instant height, take some cuttings from your trees and strategically place them in the center of the container to add interest. If you want a particular color, use spray paint. My recommendation, keep the colors based on the colors of the season. If you don’t have trees to cut from, go to your local craft store and go through the dried or silk floral area and find the shape, height, color that you want to use to fill in empty spots.
3. Add late blooming plants.
Go to your local garden center to find the best options. In our area, Cone Flowers, Black-eyed Susan, Zinnia, and Pansies continue to bloom into the fall. Though it may seem too early for Chrysanthemum, you will see them in your garden centers, incorporate them into existing pots to add color and interest! There are also cooler weather succulents that you can add, again check your local garden center for options.
4. Fill in bare areas with accessories.
Does is sound crazy to add accessories to your containers? Why not! Think about adding a Mirror Globe gazing ball that will reflect the colors from existing plants and fill up space. Or, add a solar-powered lantern for interest during the day or night. If you already have a lantern you want to use, add an outdoor battery-powered candle (that has a timer). Do you have a favorite yard statue or a garden gnome? Consider moving it to the bare area of your pot for a whimsical look.
5. Reshuffle your pots and arrange them for interest.
Move your pots around to create a color interest. Consolidate containers to maximize interest in one pot. If all the flowers in small pots have died, consider placing them in the center of a larger pot, based on color and insert tree cuttings or twigs to achieve the desired height.
By Debbie Correale, founder and owner of Redesign Right, LLC. You can learn more about her at RedesignRight.com. Find her on Facebook.com/RedesignRight, Twitter @RedesignRight, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Houzz, Google+ and Instagram. (Feature photo from Houzz: Kim Gamel.)
