Halloween planting? Of course! If you enjoy seasonal decorating and theme gardens, creating a fall garden in a planter is an entertaining way to end your container gardening year.
In October and November, the days are persistently cooler. While some parts of the country are still basking in the glow of the fall, other parts are moving into the winter deep freeze. Choose your plants accordingly, and baby them by keeping them close to the house if you live in a colder climate.
Small Japanese maple trees are a good longer-term fall planting. Place these in a large pot on a terrace or a deck. You may need to find a new home for them as they grow older and larger, but for a while they will do well in a large pot, and they certainly add brilliant and ever-changing fall colors to your entryway.
For a simple but effective Halloween planting, create a basket with black and orange pansies. Although we often think of pansies as tender spring plants, they are surprisingly hardy into the cold of the fall. Keep them in a sheltered area next to the house as the temperature drops. Mix red, orange, and yellow pansies for a Thanksgiving potted display.
Vibrant fall mums are a staple of fall gardens. These hardy, brightly-colored plants come in many different tones and love to live in flower pots. Bring some of them indoors to adorn your Thanksgiving table.
How about some black plants to act as a background for orange flowers or to make your garden just a little spookier? Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus “Nigrescens”) grows more slowly in containers, but it is possible to grow this grass in a pot. It starts out green and then moves on to become a black color, with black berries. It prefers partial shade to full sun and well drained soil.
Solanum integrifolium or Pumpkin on a Stick is an intriguing member of the eggplant family. Its fruits look like tiny pumpkins. This plant is best suited to temperate climates, and as it is in the nightshade family but looks lovely to eat, it should be kept away from children.
Image Credit: naneki