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Create Stunning Autumn Containers That Last for Months

Autumn is one of the most rewarding times of year for container gardening.

As summer displays begin to fade, autumn offers the opportunity to completely refresh your pots with rich colours, beautiful foliage and plants that continue performing well into the cooler months.

The secret isn't simply replacing tired plants. It's selecting varieties that complement one another, planting them correctly and understanding how they'll develop over the coming weeks.

In this guide we'll show you exactly how we create autumn containers at Newlands Nursery, helping you produce displays that continue looking better as the season progresses.

Need to know

• Autumn is the perfect time to refresh tired summer containers.

• Always remove old plants before replanting.

• Fresh compost gives your new plants the best possible start.

• Combine height, colour and texture for maximum impact.

• Water thoroughly after planting.

• Feed if plants will continue growing through autumn.

• Expect your display to improve over the following weeks.

Step 1

Know When It's Time to Refresh

By late summer many containers have reached the end of their best display. Flowers become fewer, plants become leggy and watering often becomes a daily challenge.

Rather than trying to keep tired displays going, replacing them with fresh autumn plants gives you months of new colour and interest.

A refreshed container immediately brightens patios, entrances and outdoor spaces while requiring far less maintenance than an ageing summer display.

Step 2

Prepare Your Container

Remove all old plants, weeds and as much of the old compost as practical.

Wash the container if necessary and check that drainage holes remain clear.

Refilling with fresh compost gives your new plants access to nutrients and creates the ideal environment for healthy root development.

Step 3

Choose Plants That Work Together

The best autumn containers combine different shapes, colours and textures rather than relying on flowers alone.

Mix upright plants with mounding varieties, add attractive foliage and include something that gently trails over the edge of the container.

By choosing plants that naturally complement one another, your display will continue improving as each variety develops.

Step 4

Arrange Before You Plant

Before planting, position every plant on top of the compost exactly where you think it should go.

Move them around until you're happy with the balance of colour, height and shape.

Standing back and viewing the container from different angles often helps you spot simple improvements before planting begins.

Step 5

Plant With Future Growth in Mind

Resist the temptation to squeeze plants tightly together simply to create an instant display.

Our autumn collections are designed knowing how each variety will grow over the coming weeks.

Plant at the correct spacing, water thoroughly and allow the plants room to develop naturally into a balanced display.

Step 6

Keep Your Display Looking Its Best

Autumn containers generally require less watering than summer displays, but they still benefit from regular attention.

Continue removing faded flowers, tidy damaged foliage and water whenever the compost begins to dry.

With just a little maintenance, many autumn containers will continue looking attractive for several months.

Step 7

Watch Your Container Mature

The day you plant your container is only the beginning.

Over the following weeks the plants will establish, grow together and create a fuller, more natural display.

Many of our favourite autumn containers actually look their best several weeks after planting, making patience one of the most valuable gardening skills.

From the grower

Alan's Top Tip

One mistake we often see is people trying to make autumn containers look completely full on planting day. Leave a little room for your plants to grow. Within a few weeks those small gaps disappear, the plants knit together naturally and you'll end up with a healthier, longer-lasting display.

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