Create a Fall Flower Box with Foliage, Pumpkins, and Berries

Welcome to part three of my window box series with Hooks & Lattice! If you’re new here, I hope you’ll check out my two previous posts on window box selection and Summer planting like a pro. Now, let’s give this Laguna Window Box a Fall make over

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Fall Planting Tips

Planting Fall window boxes and container gardens can be tricky between the hot days and sudden frosts. To create tough designs that can handle this range of temperatures, I mix perennials and evergreens for a solid foundation, then add colorful seasonal accents that can easily be replaced as needed.

Sounds pretty great, right? Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Prep the Flower Box

Start by removing old plants. I kept the Needlepoint Ivy from last season and added a few generous scoops of fresh potting mix. Wipe down the exterior of the box with a micro-fiber cloth and use a Magic Eraser to remove any stubborn stains or debris. An application of slow-release fertilizer will help your plants maintain color and bloom power. To prevent damage from common Fall pests like slugs and snails, sprinkle Bug & Slug Killer on top of your potting mix as well.

Step 2: Design with Plants

My go-to plants for Fall containers include assorted evergreens, ornamental grasses, cabbage, Heuchera, ferns, and cold-hardy vines. In this box makeover, I was able to fit a little bit of everything! Here are the plants I used:

Prairie Winds® ‘Desert Plains’, a perennial fountain grass, is the Thriller of this design. Its blades dry in tones of red and gold, while the bottlebrush flowers remain this wheat color.

Himalayan Sweet Box, a shade-tolerant evergreen, offers glossy foliage and rich winter color. 

Ostrich Fern, a perennial, brings a lively shade of green to the combination.

Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’, another perennial, offers broad two-toned leaves in shades of warm bronze and pink.

Ornamental Cabbages are considered Fall annuals here in Virginia, but often last deep into the winter. While both varieties were solid green at the time I planted, their central rosettes will intensify in color once the temperatures drop regularly into the 40s.

Needlepoint Ivy, if introduced gradually to cold temperatures, performs as an evergreen spiller here in Zone 7B.*Please note this arrangement is planted on a shady porch in central Virginia, USDA Hardiness Zone 7B. You should always select plants that are suitable for your personal climate.

Below is my planting diagram for this design. Use it as a guide to position these plants in your window box:

• T= Thriller (tallest plant)
• F= Fillers (middle-tier plants)
• S= Spillers (trailing plants)

Step #3:Add Seasonal Color

For a fun touch at the end, I added fresh mini pumpkins on wooden floral picks. This trick allows you to create height and color wherever the arrangement needs it. Prepare to replace these every few weeks because they rot more quickly.