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I’m a year-round-flower kind of girl. I always love to have something blooming. By this time, most of the summer annuals like Zinnias and Cosmos are done, so it’s time to bring in cooler weather plants. Rather than adding lots of bedding annuals into my new flower garden, I decided to make a fall planter for my porch. It adds a pop of color and texture that makes a lovely coffee table centerpiece. Here’s how easy it is to make!
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
For this fall planter you will need:
- Assorted plants
- Container or pot-here’s a similar one to mine
- Gravel(if your planter doesn’t have drainage)
- Soil
Take a walk around your local nursery to see what bedding plants are available in your area. These are typically cooler weather annuals like Pansies, Ornamental Cabbages, Snap Dragons, and Stock.
Choose three types of plants: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. For my fall planter, I’ve chosen an Ornamental Pepper as my thriller(or anchor) plant.
I’m filling in with Stock and Cabbages.
My spiller is purple and chartreuse Potato Vine. Get a mix of textures for plenty of interest.
Step 2: Add Gravel
To ensure your plants have good drainage, add a thin layer of gravel to the bottom of your container. Maybe an inch or two. This will keep the roots from sitting in water and rotting.
Step 3: Add Soil
Next you will add soil to your fall planter. Fill the container about 2/3 to the top. This will give you plenty of room to see where flowers fit in. If you want to raise some plants up higher, add more soil in those spots.
Step 4: Add Anchor Plant
Each fall planter needs to have an anchor plant, or focal point. Mine is this ornamental pepper. Place that plant in the middle of your planter. This will give you an idea of how much room you’ll have for other plants.
Step 5: Place Plants In Planter
Now it’s time to figure out how you want to arrange the various plants you’ve chosen. Because this is a short-lived mixed planter, you can really cram the plants together. They won’t have time to reach their full size before freezing, so pack ’em in. Leave the plants in their grower’s pots and arrange them until you are happy with the look. Make sure your planter is attractive from all the angles it will be visible.
Step 6: Plant Your Centerpiece
Once you are happy with the plant arrangement, go ahead and remove the flowers from their pots. Set the root balls on top of the soil you’ve already added. Once they’re all in place, backfill with extra soil until you reach the base of the stem. A good rule of thumb for containers is to bury plants to the same depth they are in their grower pots.
Step 7: Water In
The last thing you will need to do is water your new planter. This not only helps plants deal with transplant shock, but it will also remove any air pockets in the soil.
Enjoy Your Fall Planter
Take a step back and enjoy the beautiful centerpiece you’ve created! This is such a simple project that will instantly perk up any space. I love to bring the outdoors in, so don’t be afraid to add this fall planter to your dining table for a special occasion. Happy Growing!
