Late summer and fall are a great time, perfect for gardening. The sun is no longer as strong and there is much to reap for those who have planted. It is possible to prune most trees and it is time to brighten up their plantings. Here we offer tips and ideas for balcony boxes, entrance pots, the conservatory and other small spaces in the garden.
When we choose plants for outdoor planting in late summer and autumn, it is smart to choose a base with plants that remain beautiful even after the first frosty nights. There are many beautiful and hardy perennials and grasses to choose from that stay beautiful well into winter.
For the plants that we plant in the fall, the appearance of the leaves is more important because the flowering does not last as long. Many plants take on a more intense color the colder it is, for example some varieties of alum root, creeping amber, and ornamental grass. In addition to perennials, there are many hardy annuals that give the plant color and in many cases remain beautiful long after the first frost, sometimes until Christmas.
A good planter is a must for a successful result. In a larger container with more soil volume, the roots get enough space and there is a better buffer when watering so that the soil does not dry out so quickly. This is not as important in the fall as it is in the summer, as the humidity is higher and the temperature lower. But a general measure for a balcony planter is that it is 20 cm wide and 20 cm high and for pots it should be the size of a bag, so about 40 litres. Wooden boxes, baskets or zinc boxes in the correct sizes work great and are a nice alternative for grouping several pots together. Fall plantings should also be watered, but the cooler the weather, the less water is needed. Feel how the earth feels. Nutrition is not necessary. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the planter to allow excess water to drain. Place your new plants in a container where there are already other plants in the summer, then first remove the faded plants. Also remove the roots and top up with new planting soil.
Plant the plants so densely that the arrangement looks complete from the start, as cool weather and low light make growth insignificant. Also choose plants with flowers that have already come out a bit. The flowers last a long time in the cooler fall temperatures and very budding plants have a hard time blooming if the light is too dim and the heat too low.
Ornamental grass is most beautiful in late summer and autumn. Some grasses are affected by cooler temperatures and change to different shades of color. When the grass moves in the wind, they create life and movement in the plants and are very decorative. In addition, the grass provides volume and height, which is one of the foundations of all successful plantings. There are both annual and perennial grasses, but you can't count on perennial grasses to survive the winter in a pot.
Alum root is one of the favorites for fall planting. There is a huge choice of different alum root varieties in shades of green and burgundy, lime and amber! Different varieties have marbled leaves with beautiful markings in different colors. The alum root propagated by cuttings in particular gives a lot of volume and is a super filling plant. Mixing different types of alum root is effective.
Acephaia is a strong and durable plant that can survive until Christmas. Available in various color shades, it works well as a strong element in a planting with other plants, but it is also very nice to put a number of them together, for example in a low wooden box.
Plants that hang over the edge of the pot and hide the soil are grateful to use. Examples of hardy plants that do very well are silver kidney wind, fox sucker, money leaf, ivy, yellow strips and a large sliding vine. (Dichondra argentea, Ajuga reptans, Lysimachia nummularia, Hedera helix, Lamium galeobdolone and Muehlenbeckia complexa)
There are several plants that are relatively hardy and remain beautiful even after the first frosty nights. Here are some favorites.
Aster:sweet flowers in blue-purple and pink tones. Blue flower, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, where the flowers are a fantastic blue color and the foliage changes to red fall colors when it gets colder. Cyclamen:Cyclamen persicum is a beautiful plant that comes in many different shades of pink. Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla:with its large inflorescences, the hydrangea gives color and volume to the plants. Available in many fine saturated shades of red, burgundy, pink, blue and white. Chrysanthemum:Chrysanthemum is another classic that comes in many cheerful colors and fits nicely in fiery plantings. Chrysanthemums can now be found almost all year round, but late summer is just the right time for those who want to follow the natural seasons. Those who like strong shapes choose ball crosses, beach ball sizes grow in many different shades. Love herb, Hylotelephium, robust and volume-creating flower in many different shades of pink. Also popular with bees. The love herb can be advantageously planted in the garden if it no longer fits in the pot.
Taranta, Kalankoe:The Taranta Series is a series of robust plants with coarse leaves. They are reminiscent of Calandiva and very easy to care for. Autumn Glow and Calandiva also do well in an outdoor pot as long as the temperature is mild.
