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Give your containers a fall makeover

Q. I am tired of looking at my petunias and geraniums in my summer containers. What should I plant for a nice fall look?

A. I love the fresh feel of fall when the heat of late summer begins to dissipate, and the crisp fall air arrives. I'm always anxious to see the mums arrive in the garden centers and the varying autumn hues of purple, orange, red and yellow.

If you're like me, some of your containers may be starting to look a bit drab as summer comes to end. Not to fear as fall is near and there are so many great fall plants available to give your containers a facelift! I find, too, that sometimes I can keep some of my summer plants like lantana and begonias and just add some fall interest such as coleus and maybe a little dusty miller or celosia. All help to give a summer container a lift as you move into fall.

It's also around this time that many of us think about changing up our summer containers completely with some fall interest. We have lots to choose from. Large mums in and of themselves make a great display throughout fall. If you've got a large container pot, you could buy several and plant them together to create a kaleidoscope of color.

I like to mix combinations of flowers together for fall interest Some combination planter ideas include mixing mums with some Swiss chard (yes it's a vegetable but looks great when planted with flowers) and some lime-colored coleus for contrast.

And the colors, oh the colors. With fall comes vibrant hues of burgundy, orange, yellow and purple. I love to combine fall colors to create a bright container full of some of my fall favorites. If you've got a large container to fill, consider filling it with ornamental millet, some annual sunflowers or mums and some asters. The combination of colors will really play off each other. You may also want to consider using some ornamental peppers, chard or kale to offer some contrast

Asters are another fall favorite that when planted with mums and celosia can add quite the color burst to your container garden. Also consider the ornamental pepper which is a standout in fall containers and looks great when combined with a bright orange and sunny yellow mum.

This year I've seen a lot of Croton used in containers. Yes, it is generally an indoor plant in our area but its variegated color scheme is perfect for a fall container. Consider mixing it with a garden mum, some bronze bugleweed and an ornamental grass and you'll have a knockout container.

Also remember that with fall comes mini pumpkins and gourds. Adding a few of these to your container to give it a fall flair.

Yes, fall is knocking on our door and it's the perfect time to get out there and spruce up your containers. Consider it one of your late-season gardening opportunities before winter comes our way. Happy container designing!

- Wendy Reiner

• Provided by Master Gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, and University of Illinois Extension, North Cook Branch Office, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 298-3502 on Wednesdays or email northcookmg@gmail.com. Visit web.extension.illinois.edu/mg.

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