How to create an autumn container display
As summer colour begins to fade, an autumn container is an easy way to brighten your doorstep, patio or balcony.
Combine seasonal flowers with colourful foliage and trailing plants to create a display that will continue looking attractive as the weather becomes cooler.
Follow these six simple steps to create your own.
1. Choose the right container
Almost any frost-resistant container can be used, provided it has drainage holes in the base.
Choose a pot that is large enough to hold several plants without overcrowding them. Larger containers also dry out more slowly and provide greater protection for roots during colder weather.
Place the container in its final position before filling it, as it may become heavy.
2. Add compost and drainage
Cover any large drainage holes with broken terracotta or a small piece of mesh to prevent compost from washing through.
Fill the container with fresh, peat-free multi-purpose compost. Gently firm it as you work, leaving enough room for the plants and a small watering gap beneath the rim.
The compost should drain freely, as autumn and winter plants are unlikely to thrive in waterlogged conditions.
3. Choose your autumn plants
Select plants that offer a mixture of height, colour and texture.
Good choices include:
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Cyclamen for bright seasonal flowers
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Heuchera for colourful evergreen foliage
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Heather for flowers and texture
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Ornamental grasses for height and movement
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Ivy for trailing over the edge
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Skimmia for evergreen structure and colourful buds
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Pansies and violas for long-lasting flowers
Choose two or three complementary colours for a coordinated display, or combine brighter shades for a cheerful seasonal arrangement.
4. Arrange before planting
Keep the plants in their pots while you experiment with the arrangement.
Position the tallest or most structural plant towards the centre or back of the container. Add rounded foliage and flowering plants around it, then place trailing plants close to the edge.
Turn the container and look at it from several angles before planting. This makes it easier to spot gaps and create a balanced display.
5. Add spring-flowering bulbs
Autumn containers can provide colour now and deliver another display in spring.
Plant daffodils, crocuses, tulips or hyacinths beneath the autumn plants. Position the bulbs at the recommended depth with their pointed ends facing upwards, then arrange your seasonal plants above them.
The bulbs will remain beneath the compost until their shoots begin to appear.
6. Plant and water
Remove each plant from its nursery pot and gently loosen any tightly packed roots.
Position the plants at approximately the same depth as they were growing previously. Fill around them with compost and press it gently into any gaps.
Water the container thoroughly after planting and allow the excess to drain away.
How should I care for an autumn container?
Check the compost regularly, but only water when the surface begins to feel dry. Containers may still need watering during mild or dry autumn weather, although they will require much less as temperatures fall.
Remove faded flowers and damaged leaves to keep the display tidy.
During prolonged wet weather, raise the container onto pot feet to help excess water escape. Move less-hardy plants into a sheltered position if severe frost is forecast.
Create a colourful autumn welcome
A combination of flowers, foliage, grasses and trailing plants can transform a simple pot into a colourful autumn feature.
Visit Coletta & Tyson Garden Centre in Woodmansey, near Beverley and Hull, to explore our seasonal plants, containers, compost and spring-flowering bulbs.