Organic Containers for Fall Floral Displays

Most gardeners love to create fall displays. Most such displays are created for front porches and/or decks with containers being used. I like to use different types of containers [see Use Containers to Add Whimsy to Your Landscape], and fall offers a great time to take advantage of some very organic containers for you fall flowers.

A great example of going organic in terms of choosing containers for your flowers is to use pumpkins. Yes, I said pumpkins. Buy one or two extra pumpkins when you are purchasing them for you jack-o-lanterns. Just cut off the top and clean the inside out well. (You can, of course, use the meat of the pumpkin to make pies and/or soup.) Just fill the pumpkin with potting soil and plant as you normally would. It is that simple. At the end of the season, especially if you have planted hardy mums, which are perennials, you can plant the entire pumpkin with the plants in your garden. The pumpkin will decompose in the garden. The same can be done with various types of squashes.

Tips: Pumpkins can be found in various sizes, shapes, and even colors. Very large pumpkins can hold a large fall display by using seasonal grasses, chrysanthemums, and pansies. White pumpkins lend themselves to the use of other colors, such as purples. Oddly-shaped pumpkins can be used to create different-looking displays. Do not be afraid to use more than one pumpkin and or squash in your display.

Hay bales are easy to find in the fall and are usually used more as plant stands rather than as actual planters. People will set large pots of mums on them along with scarecrows and/or jack-o-lanterns. You can also use these hay bales for planters. Cut out a hole large enough to hold the root ball of your plant, fill with dirt, and plant. Once again, you can use any type of fall plant that you desire. If you want to use half of the hay bale as a plant stand, place one of the pumpkins that you have planted on the hay.

Tips: Hay bales also come in various sizes. Consider placing a smaller bale on a larger one, with both containing fall plants.

Some final tips: Whatever type of container you decide to use for your fall floral display, do keep one thing in mind. For a truly effective display, plant densely. In other words, fill every inch of space with a plant. You do not need to leave space for the flowers to grow and spread. Fall flowers have a much shorter bloom time than your spring and summer perennials; therefore, you want to get as much bang for you buck as quickly as you can. In addition, do not throw away those mums. Most that are available in gardening centers are perennials. Plant them in your landscape after the blooms are spent for another fall display the next year. Also, do not forget to deadhead your fall flowers to encourage a continuous succession of blooms.