The One Secret To Budget-Friendly Designer Fall Planters

Create stunning, designer-looking fall planters with ease! Learn how to repot pre-made garden center arrangements and add natural elements for a beautiful, budget-friendly outdoor display.

For years, I relied on a local landscape designer to fill the planters around our home with the most stunning summer and fall arrangements.

They were overflowing with beautiful and unexpected plants that made our outdoor spaces look like something straight out of a magazine! As much as I loved those designer planters, the cost really started to add up, especially for the designer look I wanted every.

I needed a more budget-friendly way to achieve it. I didn’t want to give up having gorgeous fall planters, so I wondered how I could recreate that same full, layered look without the sky-high price tag? Luckily, I found a solution, and it’s much easier than you might think!

My Ah-Ha Moment!

One day, as I wandered through a local garden center, I stumbled upon the perfect solution to my fall planter dilemma! I noticed their pre-made fall arrangement in a simple bushel basket overflowing with beautiful seasonal plants. They looked very much like the arrangements my designer friend made for me. That’s when the idea hit me—why not just replant these arrangements into my own porch and patio pots at home?

Excited to try it out, I brought the bushel basket home and transferred the entire arrangement into my existing planters. And WOW—what a transformation!

My pots looked just as beautiful as the ones my landscape designer used to create for me but at half the price! Since then, I’ve been repotting pre-made fall arrangements from garden centers every year, and I’ve learned some savvy tips along the way. I’m so excited to share them with you because you can have those same designer-looking fall planters without the designer price tag!

Benefits Of Repotting Garden Center Arrangements

• You Save Money: Pre-made garden center arrangements are a fraction of the cost of hiring a designer to plant your fall planters.
• Convenience: Carrying just one planter or basket from the garden center is much easier than carrying individual plants.
• Designer Look: Your outdoor planters will look professionally designed without professional help.
• Personalization: You can easily add your own special touches, like decorative extras or unique plants, to make the planter truly yours (more on this below).
• Time-Saving: No need to spend hours selecting individual plants and arranging them. You get an instant, ready-made arrangement you can transfer in minutes.
• Less Guesswork: Garden center arrangements are designed with plant compatibility in mind, so you don’t have to worry about which plants will thrive together.
• Seasonal Inspiration: Pre-made planters often showcase the latest trends and seasonal plants, giving you fresh ideas for future planting projects.
• Low Maintenance: These arrangements are usually created with hardy, seasonal plants that are easy to care for, making them perfect for busy schedules.
• No Replanting Stress: You don’t have to worry about spacing or placement; just transfer the arrangement as is for a professional, balanced look.

Finding The Perfect Professional Arrangement: What To Consider

You will probably find lots of interesting, professional-looking arrangements at your local nursery or garden center. Here are a few tips to help you find the one that is perfect for your outdoor spaces.

Size of the Pot: You want to be sure the garden center arrangement fits your planter, leaving enough room for roots to grow and proper air circulation. So, know your pot measurements.

Sunlight Requirements: Choose plants that match the sun exposure of the area where your planter will be placed, whether full sun, partial shade, or full shade.

Color Scheme: Consider the colors in the arrangement and how they’ll complement your home’s exterior and other seasonal decor.

Watering Needs: Make sure the plants have similar watering requirements so they all stay healthy with the same care routine.

Maintenance Level: If you prefer low-maintenance planters, look for hardy, easy-care plants that require minimal deadheading and upkeep.

Personalization Potential: Consider whether the arrangement allows space for you to add your own extras, like decorative accents or seasonal flowers.

Here’s The Planter I Chose

Fall doesn’t offer a long growing season, so I wanted to find planters with mature, fuller plants to make sure my outdoor pots looked lush and overflowing right away.

I picked out two identical planters, each with one yellow mum, one rust mum, one purple fountain grass, one black pearl ornamental pepper, and one flowering cabbage. Just in case I needed to fill in any gaps in my square pots, I also grabbed four extra black pearl ornamental pepper plants and a pack of pansies. Plus, I had some coleus plants from my summer arrangements that I could easily transplant into the fall planters if needed.

Prepare The Soil

If you are planting your fall arrangement in the same pot you had a previous season’s planting in, begin by clearing out the planter, removing all of the leftover summer plants. Make sure to dig up and remove any embedded root systems from the soil, using a trowel to loosen the dirt. It’s important to remove large roots from previous plants to allow the new plants to establish healthy root systems. Loosening the soil will also improve aeration and drainage.

Next, remove about a quarter of the soil from the planter to create space for the new plants. To prepare the remaining soil, amend it with a quality granular fertilizer, ensuring the fertilizer is well-mixed into the soil. This will provide essential nutrients for your new plants to thrive throughout the season. Your planter is ready for the new fall arrangement with the soil properly prepared and enriched.

Some professionally prepared planters may already contain fertilizer. If so, check with the garden center where you purchase them. If they do, skip adding any extra fertilizer to your pots.

How To Plant An Easy Fall Planter

How I Did It

To start, I removed the black pearl ornamental pepper from the back of the pre-made planter. These striking plants have berry-like peppers that begin red and turn black, creating a beautiful contrast against the rust and yellow mums in the arrangement.

Since the plants had been recently planted, they easily lifted out of their containers, making the transfer simple.

This spot is visible as we enter the patio from the garage side, so I wanted something eye-catching and unique there. After that, I planted the rust-colored mums and the flowering cabbage.

To add more fullness, I placed one of the extra black pearl peppers in the front of the planter.

Following the original design pattern, I added the red ornamental grass in the center and positioned the yellow mum to the right.

I had some coleus from my summer plantings, so I transplanted a few into the fall arrangement to enhance the look. Finally, I tucked in three little yellow pansies to give the planter a bright pop of color!

Other Plants To Add To A Fall Planter

You may want to consider adding a few extra hardy fall plants to enhance the fullness and beauty of your outdoor planters! With fall being a shorter growing season, you can pack your planters with a variety of seasonal plants without worrying about overcrowding.

There are countless beautiful options that can bring even more autumn charm to your fall containers!

Fall Plants Perfect For Outdoor Containers

• Pansies: These cool-weather favorites add bright pops of color and can withstand early frosts, making them perfect for fall. And when protected can bloom all winter.
• Flowering Cabbage and Kale: Ornamental varieties bring beautiful textures and rich, deep hues of green and purple to your planters.
• Creeping Jenny: This low-growing plant’s bright green leaves add a trailing element, perfect for softening the edges of your containers.
• Marigolds: Known for their vibrant yellow and orange flowers, marigolds provide a long-lasting burst of fall color.
• Lettuces: Edible and decorative, fall lettuces offer lush greens that work well as container fillers.
• Violas: Smaller than pansies but just as colorful, violas thrive in cooler temperatures and add delicate charm to any planter.
• Asters: These late-season bloomers come in various colors, adding height and dainty flowers to your fall containers.
• Ivy: Ivy is a classic trailing plant that adds texture and depth, softening the look of your planters.
• Lamb’s Ear: With its silvery, velvety leaves, lamb’s ear brings a soft, neutral tone and unique texture to fall arrangements.
• Green or Pink Sedum: Sedums are hardy and low-maintenance, providing a burst of color with their succulent-like leaves and late-season blooms.
• Purple Millet: This ornamental grass adds drama and height with its deep purple plumes, perfect for giving structure to your containers.
• Lemon Coral Sedum: A bright and sunny sedum that offers a vibrant lime-green color, making it an eye-catching addition to any fall planter.
• Trailing Sedum: Hardy and drought-resistant, this sedum cascades beautifully over the edges of containers, adding texture and interest.

Adding Natural Fall Elements

Why not embellish your fall planters by incorporating natural elements like pumpkins, gourds, or pinecones? These additions instantly elevate the look and create a stunning seasonal display.

Adding natural fall elements brings a fun, unexpected touch to your arrangement, creating visual interest and depth. For an even more polished look, consider placing a few pumpkins or other fall items around the base of your planter. Grouping them casually at the bottom adds a sense of fullness and balance, giving it that designer touch.

These natural elements not only celebrate the beauty of fall but also add texture and a charming aesthetic to your outdoor decor!

With just a few easy steps and thoughtful additions, you can create stunning fall planters that look professionally designed for a lot less. Happy planting, and enjoy the beauty of the season!

Fall Planter Shopping Guide

Happy Fall Decorating!