The Ultimate Guide to Planting for a Stunning Fall Garden

Want to grow a gorgeous garden this autumn? Follow these tips and tricks to planting for a fall garden that is full of flowers and foliage.

As the vibrant colors of summer begin to fade, it’s time to shift your focus to creating a stunning fall garden.

With the right planning and techniques, you can ensure a bountiful and beautiful garden that will flourish well into the autumn months.

Here are some essential tips and tricks to help you get started.

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Planting for a Fall Garden Tips

To plant a garden that’s always in bloom, it’s important to consider a few things so we get lots of color throughout the growing season.

Whether we get that color through blooms or foliage, the gardens look full and beautiful all the time because something is always happening in the beds.

And if you want to get that cottage garden vibe too, check out THESE tips.

Fall Bloom Time

For starters, it’s important to look at when flowers bloom when planting a fall garden.

Look for the best fall garden flowers that will be in bloom from August-ish through October. But there are so many other fall garden plants to choose from too.

Chrysanthemums are always a great option, but the blooms don’t last long so keep that in mind when you pick them up from the nursery.

Here are some more flowering plants that bloom in the fall.

• Pansies
• Celosia
• Dahlias
• Sedum Autumn Joy
• Black Eyed Susan
• Snapdragons
• Marigolds
• Joe Pye Weed
• Ornamental Grasses
• Solidago (non-invasive only)
• Caryopteris
• Butterfly bush
• Asters
• And More!

If you are short on growing space, you can plant any of these in a container garden too.

And if you are looking for other fall planting ideas, check out this post that shares what to plant in a fall garden.

Types of Fall Flowers

In addition to looking at bloom time, choose flowers that have different shapes, color, and sizes.

Different flower types with various shapes and sizes will add lots of texture and dimension to the gardens.

When you are shopping around at the garden nursery, each one likely has different stock so shop around to see what inspires you.

You may not find all of the plants you want to use at the same nursery. So you may need to visit a few if you can.

Plant in Groupings

Depending on the size of your garden and plant varieties, plant in odd numbers.

And I would plant more of the same perennials and annuals in larger groupings. You’ll achieve a greater visual impact and it’s more pleasing to the eye to see larger groupings of the same plant instead of a bunch of different plants.

When I first started gardening in my former garden, I tried to squeeze different varieties in my half-acre landscape, so I squeezed smaller groupings in.

It looked pretty, but as I’m moving through my gardening years, I’m leaning towards larger drifts of plants that provide a greater impact in the garden.

Especially here in my new gardens.

So depending on what you want and how large your gardening area is, consider the size of your groupings.

Foliage Color

In addition to the blooms, look at plant foliage color, texture, and dimension.

Don’t underestimate the power of foliage color both in fall and throughout the gardening season.

Even if a plant does not bloom or produces insignificant blooms, the foliage can have a huge visual impact on the garden.

While shopping around, look for different types of foliage that complement each other. And, consider how that foliage changes in fall.

Because even when those flowers fade, that foliage adds a huge impact to the overall garden design. Some plants get amazing fall foliage color just before the leaves fall and they are worth adding to your landscape.

Plan Ahead When Planting for Fall Garden

While this is one of my money-saving gardening tips, it is worth planning ahead to the fall garden when planting summer flowering annuals.

If you choose plants with colors and textures that will look amazing in both spring and autumn, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money when you start planting for the fall garden.

In spring, I tend to gravitate to marigolds, celosia, snapdragons, euphorbias, petunias, and nasturtiums to keep the garden going throughout fall.

But there are so many other options out there to choose from.

So see what’s available at your garden nursery and keep that in mind when purchasing plants in spring.

Growing and Maintaining a Fall Garden Tips

If you are itching to get started on your garden, here are some tips to help you begin.

Choose the Right Plants

Opt for plants that thrive in cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. Consider options like ornamental kale, cabbage, garden mums, pansies, celosia, snapdragons, and ornamental grasses for a burst of fall colors.

I love grasses in fall because they add a lot of movement to the garden. And you can’t beat those feathery plumes!

Timing Matters

Plan your planting schedule carefully. You can get started in late August or early September, but keep in mind that it’s much hotter then and you’ll be watering much more often to keep things looking good.

For me, I prefer to wait until late September to plant so it’s easier to care for and requires much less time from me.

Prepare the Soil

Ensure your garden bed has good well-draining soil. Amend the soil with compost to improve its structure and fertility, providing a healthy foundation for your plants.

And if you are gardening in containers this fall? Use fresh potting soil in your planters. Even if you have existing soil, remove about 1/2 and refill with fresh to give plants a good start.

Mulch for Insulation

Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and prevent weed growth.

I don’t always do this in the fall because I add so much mulch in spring.

Water Wisely

While fall brings cooler weather, your plants still need consistent moisture. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deep root growth.

If you plant when it’s still pretty hot out, you may be watering more often. Particularly if you are growing chrysanthemums.

Pruning and Deadheading

Regularly prune dead or diseased plant material and remove faded blooms. This will not only keep your garden tidy but also redirect the plant’s energy to new growth.

Keep in mind when flowering shrubs bloom. If you have a spring flowering shrub, do not prune it until after it blooms the following spring or you risk cutting off next season’s blooms.

And where hydrangeas are concerned, leave them alone until the following growing season.

Fertilize with Care

Avoid heavy fertilization in the fall. Plants want to go dormant in fall as they slow down for winter.

However, it’s good to fertilize your fall annual flowers to keep them looking good. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to provide essential nutrients.

Garden Tip: If you are fertilizing roses or houseplants, do not feed them anymore after mid-August so they can transition into dormancy before winter.

Consider Container Gardening

For more flexibility, consider planting in containers. This allows you to move sensitive plants indoors during sudden temperature drops so you can keep your garden growing until winter officially arrives.

Protect from Frost

Keep an eye on weather forecasts. When frost is expected, cover your delicate plants like dahlias and marigolds with frost cloth or old blankets overnight to shield them from cold damage.

Plan for Spring

As you plant for fall, keep next spring in mind. Plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils in the fall for a burst of color as winter fades away.

Perennials vs. Annuals? What Should You Plant

When planting for the fall garden, I’m often asked what’s better to plant, annuals vs. perennials.

And the answer is…

It really depends on how much work you want to do and your fall gardening budget.

I prefer to have more perennials in my gardens than annuals because they are easier and come back every year.

BUT, I tuck in annuals to get that seasonal color that just won’t quit while perennials and shrubs grow, blooms, and change during the season.

So it’s really all a matter of preference.

More About Planting for Fall Garden Design

Do you have any fall garden design tips or tricks you’d like to share? I would love to know more in the comments below.

And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind-the-scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it to the blog. Would love to see you there too!

If you prefer to binge-watch Bricks ’n Blooms on TV, we go more in-depth with tours and posts on my YouTube channel. Would love to hang out with you there!

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Garden Supplies I Use

I’m often asked about the garden supplies and tools that I use most. From pruners to deer repellents, here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

• I like to use a good-quality garden soil, compost, and perlite when planting.
• I have used this deer repellent with great success. But now, I’m all about this deer repellent that is systemic instead of topical. This means the plant takes it in as opposed to it just smelling bad.
• Hands down this is my favorite hand-weeding tool. You can use to get underneath roots, loosen soil, and it cuts down on the weeding time because you work much faster.
• But I also love this long, stand-up weeding tool to really get around roses from afar.
• I like to use THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER for roses because the blooms are more prolific and it’s organic.
• You’ll need a sharp set of pruners when working with plants and flowers. I buy a few so I can stash them around.
• Where pest and disease problems are concerned, I generally use this insecticidal soap or neem oil to help control infestations depending on the issue.
• This is my favorite set-and-forget slow-release fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, and container gardens.
• Whenever I stake my peonies or other plants, I generally use these grow through garden supports because they work really well and keep the blooms upright.

Looking for More Flower Garden Ideas?

If you love flowers and want to grow more in your garden, here are some posts that will get you on your way.

From tucking in flowering plants that are deer-resistant or ones that attract more butterflies and hummingbirds, to shade-loving flowers like the lenten rose, these posts will get you on your way to growing a garden that will bring joy for years to come.

Here are more cut flower and cottage garden growing tips, tricks, and design inspiration.

• 5 Quick Ways to Grow a Cottage Garden
• Easy-Care Cottage Garden Ideas
• Flower Garden Ideas for the Front Porch
• Why and How to Divide Perennials
• Perennials vs Annuals
• Flowers that Bloom in Midsummer
• How My Cottage Garden Grew in 2021
• Cut Flower Gardening for Beginners
• The Complete Guide to Roses Care
• The Basics of Hydrangea Care
• Everblooming Cottage Garden Design Ideas
• The Secret to Growing an Everblooming Cottage Garden

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