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Annual and Perennials Containers for Fall
Written by David S.
Fall is a magical time of year. It is the calm before the holiday storms and time to rest, relax, and recover from the busy and beautiful summers here in Southern California. Finally, we are in July, and it is time to look ahead to fall flowers and container gardens. This blog discusses several fall-blooming plants, their care, and the art of building containers for fall blooms.
Chrysanthemum
Perhaps the best of all the fall flowers, chrysanthemums offer a beautiful array of colors that brighten up indoor and outdoor areas. Mums are easy to grow, and they reward you with full flushes of color. Some varieties are excellent for cutting, and others will amaze you with the beauty they add to containers.
Chrysanthemum Care
Soil: Mums need soil that is both moist and dry. Finding the right mix of soil is the hardest part of growing mums. A good tip is to mix your potting soil for mums. Start with quality compost, such as Black Gold compost, and add to it, aggregates, such as perlite. FoxFarms 70/30 mix is a good option. You want about 25 percent aggregate to compost. The aggregate will help the soil drain but also will suck up water to keep the soil moist.
Soil pH — 6.5
Watering: Water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. When the plants are new, water them one or two times per day; when the plants are established, water once per day.
Aster
Asters are an absolute favorite with their bright daisy-like blooms and are pure joy. Nature has a lovely way of mixing colors, and asters are beautiful contrasts of vivid color and bright centers.
Aster Care
Soil: Like mums, asters need well-draining soil. Heavy soils, those with too much clay, will cause root rot, and the plants will struggle to survive. Start with good organic compost with aggregates such as coconut coir, perlite, or vermiculite. Follow the soil formula for mums.
Soil pH: Asters can take a little more acid than mums. Soil pH should be in the 5.8-6.5 range.
Watering: Asters have very similar care needs to that of mums. Keep the soil consistently moist but not dry nor soggy. Moist soil helps plants establish better and healthy root systems. As a general rule of thumb, what is below the ground will mirror what is above the ground. If you want beautiful, healthy plants to look at, spend some time creating quality soil that allows the plant’s root system to thrive too.
Pansies
Pansies are a delight. Their short size makes them a favorite for front placement in flower beds, containers, and flat, shallow pots. Pansies come in various vivid colors, including a deep, deep purple that is nearly black. Their bright colors help them stand out against the taller asters and mums.
Pansy Care
Soil: Pansies have short root systems. The plants are small, so the soil quality is essential. Soil that is too sandy will dry out quickly and stress the plant. Start with organic compost that is rich in organic matter. Loamy soil is ideal. You can mix some aggregate into the soil if there is a lot of clay. One trick to growing pansies is to use mulch, which will help the soil maintain moisture by preventing evaporation. Some lovely mulches are available in a medium/small size that makes them easier to work with smaller plants.
Soil pH — Pansies like soil a little on the acidic side. Aim for a soil pH of 54.-5.8.
Watering: Because of their short roots, pansies like to be in moist soil. Keep the soil consistently watered. On hot days you may need to water them twice. Using mulch helps reduce the need to water often.
Foxgloves
Foxgloves are gorgeous, tall, and unique flowers. They produce a spike of flowers that cascade down with gentle dotting that is just beautiful. Foxgloves are excellent in groups or as a single star in a container. They can handle the sun but prefer afternoon shade.
Foxglove Care
Soil: Foxgloves are an understory plant, so they are used to rich loamy soil that is well-draining. The trick to growing beautiful foxgloves is to keep the soil consistently moist. Start with rich organic compost or potting soil, and don’t be shy about mixing in aggregates. Coconut Coir, perlite, vermiculite are three excellent choices for aggregates that help the soil drain and hold moisture.
Soil pH: Foxgloves love acidic soil. Aim for a soil pH of 6.0 but don’t stress if the soil pH is anywhere from 4.5-8.3.
Watering — keep foxgloves consistently moist and a little wetter than dry. A good layer of mulch will help to keep the soil consistently moist. Water one per day until the plants are established. Water established plants when the top of the soil is starting to become dry.
Container Gardening for Fall
I love containers gardens because they make it so easy to change the landscaping around for different times of the year. I use a small handcart and plant containers that are 3-10 gallons. The size makes it simple to move containers in and out as needed. Start your containers in your growing area, or place the container where you want it and plant there. I move the containers when they are starting to bloom and replace them when the blooms are spent. The constant shuffling of pots keeps the areas of my yard in full bloom nearly all year long. Be sure to check out the fantastic assortment of pots available at Green Thumb Nursery. If you love fresh flowers that often bloom, consider setting up a container area that keeps your landscape in full bloom. Add a few pots every year to increase the options for in-bloom flowers. Build specific spots into the landscape for pot placement and then rotate the pots in and out as the flowers fade.
There are so many plants available to set up fall containers or containers other seasons. Be sure to stop by one of our five locations throughout Southern California and browse the options for fall container plants. Our plant experts are available to answer questions, show you the pot selection, and point you to the best products for your growing project.
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