Hi,
I was not happy with my summer containers this year and I am just ready to be done with them. Since it is the fall, I was thinking I might pull everything out and just start fresh with new plants for the fall. I wondered if anyone had any new ideas for fall containers? I am a little tired of the same old plants every year. Ornamental Kale, pansies, aster, mums. Or at least some exotic varieities of these would be nice. Anyone have any thoughts?
:-)
Is it too early to start thinking about fall containers?
i will be watching this thread as i would be interested in starting fall containers too!!
Hi Prairie - On visiting the nurseries last Friday I saw some new ideas: Chinese Lanterns, Snapdragons, short Gloriosa daisies (may be the annual form), 'Rubrum' Fountain Grass - pretty reddish ornamental grass for the background, and shorter potted sunflowers, and ornamental peppers. For snapdragons you could look for one called 'Candy Corn' - obviously orange and white combo like the candy. I grew this in my garden this year. Definitely the fall colors! And snapdragons tolerate a lot of cold weather. Mine usually flower until the snow covers them.
Sue
Not too early for me. I am planning 5 of my big pots on my deck: vine, decorative cabbage, dried gourds, mums, and such. Looking for more ideas. Garden Gate magazine has some fun color on their container cover.
Prairie, I started planning for fall containers right after spring began..... :-)
I'm trying to find some interesting foliage, in autumnal shades (burgundy, brown, copper, something like that). Of course my plans at the moment are totally different from when I started thinking about it last spring.... LOL
I'm planting my crocus today, and the freesias too. I'll have to wait a bit more for these, though, but they can sit there already.
I never had pansies so I'm thinking of getting some...
You know, when I'm not in my wee container garden I'm dreaming of it, so I basically plan all year round!! :-)
Love crocus! My fall yellow crocs came up this week. They are right by the front door smiling at me each time I go in or out. love 'em.
Hola, MyHiraeth. Como estas?
Olá Peggy! Estou muito bem! Gosto muito de estar aqui! - meaning just fine, it feels great to be here!
I have to say this - what gorgeous threesome, you and your kids! :-)
Love
Hiraeth - aka Fernanda
bueno, muchas gracias. I don't know any Portuguese. Sorry. Spanish is as close as I get, Fernanda.
Are you new to DG?
Written portuguese is quite different from spanish, but the spoken languages end up coming quite close - I have spanish friends that talk to me in spanish, I answer in portuguese and so forth, and we get on just fine! LOLOL
I'm new at DG yes - well, I've been here since July. It's been wonderful, and I'm planning to stay! :-) It opened a new world for me - there were all these things which I tought only happened to me LOL... and all these doubts I had no one to talk to!
I love it! :-) Thanks for your welcome!
Pardon my ignorance, what does VA stand for?
Glad you are here. i am new to DG this year, too. VA is the abreviation for Virginia. I am in a small town in the far north of VA on the border of West Virginia, about 40 miles (about 65 kilometers) outside of Washington, D.C.
How are your "winter flower" plans coming?
Hey Peg!
Well, my winter flower plans have been put to action yesterday - I planted some blue crocus and some freesia in my containers last night! Now patience is required LOL! Freesias will probably bloom in Feb over here... isn't that great? I love the scent!
I'm wondering how long my petunias will last... I have two large window boxes full of them, and they are still gorgeous! I'm thinking of sowing some violas and planting some muscari there when they fade.. I can't bring myself to pull them out yet!
Let's see what happens! :-)
Sounds great. Petunias here, in a colder zone, are still going strong into October, sometimes. Muscari are so dainty. good choice. Can you show photos? i'd love to see these boxes.
I must get a digital camera....... :-(
I do not think it is too early....I have seedlings from my last years pansies coming up in my pots... That tells me it is not too early for pansies and violas especially if you are starting from seed....It will be turning cooler soon and they will be ready to pop... just my experience with what is happening here naturally....I am not about anything else....shirleyt
GM All,
I'll be watching this thread, too. My summer garden seems to be shrinking back. I guess it's time to start pulling stuff up.
PEGDOG,
Don't we just love GARDEN GATE magazine!
All,
Check out HGTV.com and look for the "Gardening by the Yard" show with Paul James. He's got a list of plants for fall containers.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_seasonal_fall/article/0,1785,HGTV_3625_4921387,00.html
My pansies never seem to do well in pots. They never seem to really take off and look very healthy. Hardly grow and fill out. Should I plant them now? I always wait until later in the season. When we get a freeze, they get pushed up and then really go down hill. Is there something I can do about that other than putting them all in the garage when I know its going to freeze?
I thought pansies were known for handeling freezing weather. At least for a day or two.
Yes we do, gymgirl. I thought that was quite a find. All help and no ads - what a winner.
Pdoyle, the pansies will handle it, they just look shabby for a bit after a hard frost or snow. If there are several days of "warmer" weather, though, they bounce right back.
When I lived in VA I kept my pansies in the ground all winter, they looked rough at times during snows and really cold spurts, but they were knock out in the very, very early spring when only the crocuses were joining them ;)
Jacci
I know SalmonMe. They do realy well in the gound here. Just not in pots I guess. I guess there really isn't anything that can handle cold weather and a week of freezing weather is there? :( Oh well, we need the seasons so...