Winter Heathers (Erica carnea) provide winterly floral interest and an evergreen display of attractive foliage. They’re a great shrub for brightening up your outdoor space during winter and are generally hardy through very harsh winters. Ivy

We’re all familiar with spring flowering crocus, but did you know there are autumn-flowering crocus too?There are other benefits to be had from focusing on fall flowers for pots too. As you’re not working on the whole garden, it’s a budget-friendly and low-effort way to perk up your outdoor space in fall. Container plants are ideal for renters too, as they allow you to literally take your garden with you when you move. When should I plant fall flowers? Perhaps a cold-weather holdout, this stunning annual continues to deliver exciting color. Snapdragons come in all shades, many complementary to the rich harvest colors of autumn. Water the plants thoroughly but gently, over the next few weeks, anddon’t allow the compost to dry out.

We tend to think of flowering bulbs as a ‘spring thing’, but there are actually lots of autumn flowering bulbs that work well as fall flowers for pots. Hanging baskets are such an easy way to add some interest and colour to any space – they can transform walls and fences plus add an extra dimension to your garden. They burst with colour throughout the summer and you can fill them with frost hardy flowers and even evergreens over the winter. For more information on winter pansies, read our ‘How Long Do Winter Pansies Last in the UK?’ guide. Carex My hanging baskets were sheltered under the roof overhang, and the compost dried out in the winter. As I wasn’t in the garden so much, I simply forgot to water them. Don’t forget to keep the soil moist. Also known as autumn crocus and ‘naked ladies’, Colchicum are fantastic bulbs for autumn planters. They look crocus-like, and there are lots of varieties to browse. ‘Autumn Queen’ is an early flowerer, ‘Innocence’ is a white stunner, and ‘Pink Goblet’ is honey-scented. Nerine BowdeniiDon’t rule out some hardy herbs for your autumn pots. Woody varieties such as thyme, sage and rosemary can all look lovely in combination with autumn flowering plants. Planting herbs in your containers will also help to create a fragrant display – and you can of course use them in your cooking. Autumn flowering shrubs for containers The gardens have been put to bed but the embellishments and architectural structure that hanging baskets provide can continue through fall. Some may even last through winter in warm places. If you have a sunny window that receives plenty of light, geraniums also make wonderful indoor plants.

If you have many baskets, you might consider using anautomated watering system. Drip irrigation systems deliver water slowly and directly to the roots so there is less risk of wasting water.They can be used with timers but still need to be adjusted as the plants grow bigger and the weather changes. Most drip irrigation systems are designed for mains tap water use as they need very clean and pressurised water for the drippers to operate correctly. Compost You do need to water regularly, but it’s also really important to avoid over-watering your pots. This is particularly relevant in the cooler months of the year, when less evaporation occurs. When creating a hanging basket, it can be difficult to know how many plants to add into your container. When planting up your hanging basket, a good guide is to plant one plant per inch of the basket’s diameter. If you had a 30cm (12”) basket, you’d plant around 10-12 plants. There is an exception to this when you’re planting up stronger growing plants (such as Fuchsias). In this case, you’d want to leave more space to allow for their growth - we’d recommend 5-6 plants per 30cm (12”) basket. Note: this will vary slightly depending on the sizes of the plants you’re planting. How do you make a hanging basket look fuller? Geraniums are hardy perennials, and are a good choice for low-maintenance hanging baskets. They are closely related to pelargoniums, which are also popular for hanging baskets, although they are more tender, so grown as annuals. Firstly, you can make it easier on yourself by using a plant pot to sit your hanging basket in while you are making it up. Make sure you cover the inside of the basket with a liner. There are lots of liners to choose from, moss has a natural look, felt is easy to use and also willlook fairly natural. Fill the basket with a shallow layer (2.5cm) of hanging basket compost and at the soil level make three cuts, about 2cm across, through the liner spread equally around the basket.

This easy plant breezes through summer overflowing with abundant single or double mini-petunia-like blooms well into fall. How about adding a fern to your autumn container garden? Copper shield fern forms a compact clump, and as the name suggests, the fronds can be shades of copper with hints of pink. This plant will thrive in a shady spot with well-drained soil. Herbs

Dahlias can get pretty big, so they’re a nice plant for a large container. They are loved by slugs and snails, so you may need to provide some form of deterrent such as crushed eggshells or * metaldehyde-free slug pellets to keep your plants intact. Aster (Michaelmas Daisy) Most plants really hate to have their roots sitting in very wet compost. Too much water will eventually rot the roots and kill the plant. In hanging baskets, snapdragons are on the tall side. When pinched earlier in the summer they will be bushier with abundant unique blooms. Cyclamen – These flowering plants come in a variety of colors and are perfect for adding a pop of color to your hanging baskets during the cooler months. We’ve already touched on the importance of providing your autumn plants with plenty of nutrients. Combining quality compost with plant food is the best way to do this.Do make sure you buy a hardy variety such as Cyclamen hederifolium or Cyclamen coum; some varieties are only suited to growing indoors. Winter heather (Erica carnea) Try to deadhead your plants on a regular basis for best results – it only takes a few minutes. Protecting autumn hanging baskets and autumn planters For kids autumn planters – pop in a cute fairy or animal decoration, a colourful windmill, or a homemade sign.