URBAN AG
Fall containers
Striking seasonal color combinations that sizzle by Scott Barnard, FlowerWorx
Autumn is a glorious and welcome season after a long hot summer and yet fall
container creativity can be overlooked at times. As summer annuals wane, garden centers and growers lure us in with the usual suspects of pansies, violas, mums, ornamental cabbages and kales. It comes as no surprise that our fall containers tend to look increasing familiar throughout our landscape year after year. Every fall season, I set myself a challenge to design with interesting new accent plant material to pair with flowering pansies and violas. In pursuit of expanding my color palette beyond the use of dusty miller, dianthus and Creeping Jenny, I look to add striking foliage plants like heuchera, euphorbia, carex, sedum and Dwarf Nandina.
In larger containers, the use of conifers such as Alberta Spruce, Blue Ice Cypress, Gold Crest Arborvitae and even a dissectum Japanese maple will anchor and add color, texture and structure while introducing winter interest to your planters throughout the season. If veggies and herbs are your jam, try planting ornamental kales, cabbages, mustard, Swiss chard, parsley, and rosemary together along with ornamental peppers for a splash of color. This combination creates a colorful and functional container display. For an early spring surprise in your fall container designs, I recommend planting early double-blooming tulips to make a bold, longlasting statement with a bold color impact. Peony-shaped tulips such as fiery red Abba
UAC MAGAZINE | FALL 2019
As a short-term accent before the first frost arrives, you can use colorful tropical
foliage plants such as croton or Moonlight Philodendron to add a splash of fall color.
Gold Crest Arborvitae, violas and Dusty Miller
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Croton, Sedum Autumn Joy, heuchera, Toffee Twist Carex and dianthus
