Container gardening is a wonderful way to show off your green thumb and add a little beauty to your space. And just because it’s fall doesn’t mean it’s time to pull your plants indoors. Autumn in Katy is actually an ideal time for building a beautiful container garden.

Choose Cold-Hardy Plants

With dipping temperatures, you want to make sure you have plants that can withstand the weather changes to come. Look for cold-hardy perennials like pansies, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, and petunias. These plants won’t be hurt by cooler temperatures.

Select All-Weather Pots

You want to make sure you don’t put your plants into containers that might be sensitive to temperature changes. While extreme temperature fluctuations are unusual in Katy, they’re not unheard of, and while terra cotta pots, for example, are beautiful, they are well known for cracking in cold weather. We recommend metal, concrete, stone, or thick plastic.

Think About Color & Texture

Many plants bloom and peak in winter. Chrysanthemums have lovely, colorful blooms that appear in September and will continue to grow and thrive all throughout the year (sans flowers), so long as you take good care of them. Or try something unique like decorative kale which features stunning colors, a smooth texture, and beautiful lines.

Mix & Match

While you can build a beautiful container garden with pots that are filled with only one type of plant, you can make your containers extra beautiful by mixing different plants in each pot. For instance, place a beautiful, hardy grass in the back of one pot with blue plumbagos and ivy. This makes for a lovely, pleasing balance of colors, shapes, and textures.

Location, Location, Location

You’ll want to give your container garden a lot of sun and warmth, but also protect it from extreme weather and cold temperatures. It’s a good idea to place your containers in an area where you can easily move them under the eaves or near a protective wall in case of storms.

For a comprehensive list of autumn container garden ideas, check out Better Homes and Gardens. And for more tips on beautifying your home, visit the Olympus Grand Crossing blog.