Empty planter boxes after geraniums can decorate your windows, terrace, and balcony long after summer ends. Get inspired by twenty autumn arrangements combining heathers, ornamental foliage, trailing plants, grasses, pumpkins, and natural decorations.
What You’ll Need
- an empty planter box or other suitable container
- potting mix suitable for your chosen plants
- autumn plants according to your selected composition
- small pumpkins, pinecones, twigs, moss, or fruits for decoration
- gardening gloves and a trowel
Before you start planting, clean the planter and check that excess water can drain safely. First, arrange the plants in their pots, placing taller varieties at the back or center and trailing ones at the edges. Only then plant them, fill the gaps with potting mix, and water the arrangement moderately.
1. Heathers with Pumpkin and Ivy: Place white, pink, and purple heathers in a dark planter. Add a small orange pumpkin in the center and plant trailing ivy at one end to soften the container’s strict shape.
2. Autumn Basket with Apples: Fill a wicker basket with striking heathers and colorful foliage plants. Top with moss, pinecones, apples, and a piece of birch branch for a natural, rustic look.
3. Light Balcony Composition: Alternate white-flowering heathers, silvery plants, and ornamental cabbage in a long, light planter. Plant ivy at both ends and let its vines drape freely over the railing.
4. Planting with Ornamental Grasses: In a metallic-looking container, place delicate tufts of grass on the sides, with heathers and a plant with burgundy leaves in between. Two small light pumpkins add a subtle seasonal detail.
5. Heathers in an Old Wooden Planter: A weathered container stands out with a simple row of purple heathers. Fill the gaps with ivy and let several vines trail over the front edge for a less formal look.
6. Chrysanthemum as the Main Feature: Plant a large yellow-flowering chrysanthemum in a wooden box and balance it with heather, trailing greenery, and dark foliage. An orange pumpkin ties the yellow blooms with autumn shades.
7. Elegant White-Green Planter: Pair two white heathers with a silvery plant in the center. Let ivy cover the front and place two small light pumpkins on top. The result is understated and fits even a modern home.
8. Galvanized Container with Rosehips: Complement purple heather with ivy, pinecones, and a twig with red rosehips. Add decorations after planting and secure them so they won’t blow away in the wind.
9. Rhythm of Heathers and Ornamental Cabbages: In a terracotta planter, alternate white heathers and purple ornamental cabbages in a regular pattern. Add ivy at the edge, letting its long vine trail down the wall.
10. Burgundy Leaves for Striking Contrast: Pair pink heather with a plant with large burgundy leaves, a tuft of fine grass, and ivy. The different heights and shapes create an impressive arrangement even without extra decorations.
11. Woodland Arrangement with Pinecones: Surround a taller tuft of grass with white heathers. Cover the bare soil with moss and decorate with a few pinecones and short birch twigs.
12. Wooden Crate with Chestnuts: Plant white and pink heathers together with colorful foliage in a crate. Place a striped pumpkin in the center and add shiny chestnuts at the front.
13. Autumn Planter with Cyclamens: Arrange pink and white cyclamens in groups, add low heathers and greenery in between. A small striped pumpkin and trailing ivy give the composition a relaxed look.
14. Long Planting Under the Window: In a large wooden box, alternate pink and white heathers with silvery plants. Fill the gaps with orange pumpkins and let ivy trail over the front edge.
15. Basket with Jute Lining: Line a wire basket with jute and plant with heather, ornamental cabbage, and silvery foliage. A pinecone at the front edge highlights the natural feel of the decoration.
16. Colorful Fruits in a Green Planter: Complement white and pink heathers with plenty of ivy and twigs with orange fruits. A light pumpkin in the center creates a calm point among the rich colors.
17. Symmetry with Ornamental Cabbage: Plant purple heathers at both ends of a brown planter, with a taller silvery plant in the center. Place two ornamental cabbages in the front row and let ivy trail between them.
18. Grasses and Small Pumpkins: Place a tall, airy tuft of grass at the back edge, with pink heathers in front. Decorate the black container with several pumpkins of different colors and ivy at the sides.
19. Warm Tones with Chrysanthemum: Combine an orange-flowering chrysanthemum with pink heather and a plant with copper-burgundy leaves. Moss and a striped pumpkin at the edge help cover the soil.
20. Country-Style Composition with Branches: Plant several white and purple heathers in a grey wooden box. Add an evergreen plant, ivy, a small pumpkin, and upright birch branches to give the arrangement height.
Final Tip
Water autumn containers moderately, but don’t let the root balls dry out completely. Water needs depend on the weather, location, and chosen plants. Regularly check pumpkins, pinecones, and other decorations, and remove any damaged pieces. For window or balcony rail planters, always check for secure mounting, and when choosing plants, consider local temperatures, as not all species tolerate frost equally well.
