Easy DIY Fall Planters

Fall is my absolute favorite season. Living just outside Charlotte, NC, I’m still waiting for it to arrive here. Another week of 90 degree days is predicted, and we’re almost in October.

After weeks of seeing pumpkins, cornstalks, gourds, and mums in every direction I looked, this weekend, I patted myself on the back for my insanely impressive patience, then promptly threw in the towel and planted my Fall pots.

This is my first time doing my own flower containers, and I’m here to tell you how easy it is!

I won’t go into soil prep here (saving that for a separate story), so let’s assume you have a nice healthy living soil mixture in planter pots with drainage holes.

These are the plant varieties I used in the large planters (from mid-left, moving in a circle to the right and down):

• Ornamental Kale—“Crane Pink”—these things are very hardy; they last forever. I like to peel off the bottom few layers of large leaves—to allow more room for the other flowers and to expose the stem to give height.
• Celosia—“Twisted Yellow”—these remind me of brains and come in gorgeous bright colors. My kids are going to really enjoy the shapes and textures of these.
• Zinnia—“Magellan Orange”—great Fall color!
• Small yellow mum—quintessential Fall flower.
• Tricolor Sage—this is an edible herb (but don’t eat it unless the soil is organic!)—I don’t plan to eat it, just a good demonstration of how you can focus on visual interest and let that guide you to blur any perceived “rules” of what should or shouldn’t be in your arrangements!
• Creeping Jenny—“Goldilocks”—I love this flower so much and you always want some flowers in the front that will spill over the sides, giving the arrangement that lush and bountiful look (note: this is the only plant I used two of in each of the two large pots).

For added height, I stuck some faux branches with fall colored leaves down into the soil. I don’t love that I used faux items, but in this particular instance, I’m happy with the effect. I needed the height as my cabbage weren’t as tall as I wanted.

My two large planters sit at the top of my front steps.

I spent an hour at the garden center (because I’m super indecisive—should have been 30 min) and less than an hour of plant time.

I use drip lines in mine, but if you don’t have them, this is a great arrangement since the vast majority of the plants here are of the “water only when soil is dry” variety. The exceptions are the Creeping Jenny, that likes moist soil, and the mums, which love sun, but dry out quickly. So, make sure you water to keep those two happy enough.

Quick planting tips:

Water the flowers if they aren’t already in moist soil (less chance of root breakage). Turn the pots on their side in your hands, and squeeze the pot as you pull the soil and root balls out.

Crumble off any excess soil around the roots.

When you plant, dig down far enough to ensure you can plant the root ball of the flower at the same soil line as it’s in, in its container when you buy it.

Make sure you use enough soil to cover the root ball of each plant.

Plant flowers one at a time, starting with your focal plant, and working around in a circle—tall plants in back, shorter on the sides, spillers in the very front.

If you end up with any gaps or empty spaces, you can certainly run out and grab what you need—or go the faux route... use something you already have—like fall branches, a cute Fall sign, or mini pumpkins or gourds to fill the space, and make it look intentional.

Above all else, HAVE FUN CREATING!

Once you’re done and happy with everything, water them in (which just means give them a nice drink in their new home with their new friends), stand back, and admire your beautiful work!