Fall is on our doorstep, and with the changing seasons comes changing of our summer décor — especially summer planters.

There is no need to overhaul your entire design. With a few simple changes you can make your summer planters pop for fall.

Bold Foliage:

Keep long-lasting perennials and evergreens and swap the summer flowers for leafy plants and bold grasses. Use wine-red and vibrant green to transform your summer look to fall with minimal effort.

Try plants like Begonias, Heuchera or Coleus, which range in color from deep purple and reds to bright greens.

Add Cold-tolerant Flowers:

Use cold-tolerant flowers like Mums, Pansies, Lobularia and Nemesia to add season-extending color to your planter. Be sure to plant them when the weather is a bit warmer so they will fully bloom. Choosing bright oranges, reds, yellows and purples will provide a nice contrast to the greens and dark reds of the foliage.

Add Texture:

Experiment with grasses, twigs, and broad-leaf plants to add height and texture to your planter. Add bamboo or feathery grasses, or try varieties such as Snake Plants, Feather Reed Grass or Red Fountain Grass. Or simply add willow branches or seedpods for an easy planting-free option.

Fill Gaps with Seasonal Items:

To fill in gaps, add seasonal decorations like pumpkins or gourds. The colors and textures instantly say “fall” and create a focal point for your container garden.

Flowering Kale will also fill space. These plants range in color from deep-purple to green and grow great in the cooler temperatures of fall.

Add Late-Blooming Perennials:

Add a few late-summer or fall-blooming perennials to help transform your planter.

Varieties like coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans, Anemones or Toad Lilies (Solomon’s Seal) are great for fall color.

For more design tips and container gardening tricks, visit any English Gardens locations and talk to one of our experts.