What to plant in pots this autumn once summer flowers fade
As summer flowers in pots and balcony boxes fade in late September, gardening experts suggest replacing them with plants that thrive in cooler weather rather than giving up on colourful displays until spring.
By late September, many pots, balcony boxes and terrace planters that once held summer flowers no longer look as vibrant as they did earlier in the season. Gardening experts say this doesn't mean colourful displays have to wait until spring — simply removing spent plants and replacing them with species suited to cooler conditions can keep containers looking good.
The home and garden publication "Ideal Home" has compiled eight plants suitable for refreshing tired autumn containers.
Flowering options
Chrysanthemums are among the most classic autumn choices, available in shades from yellow and orange to red, pink and white. Removing spent blooms regularly helps extend flowering, and plants do best in a bright spot with soil that isn't allowed to dry out completely.
Dahlias can also continue flowering into autumn if faded blooms are removed regularly, encouraging new buds. Compact varieties work best in pots, along with good drainage and a sunny position.
For those who prefer low-maintenance options, sedums are a good choice — their thick, water-storing leaves tolerate drier spells, and the foliage stays attractive even once flowering ends.
Pansies and violas handle cool weather better than many summer flowers and come in a wide range of colours, though pots can dry out faster than garden beds, so regular watering matters. Cyclamen, which tolerate cooler, shadier spots, offer delicate flowers and decorative leaves suited to entryways or terraces. Feverfew-like marguerite daisies with yellow or white blooms tolerate brief dry spells but aren't frost-hardy in Latvian conditions.
Non-flowering alternatives
Ornamental cabbage leaves take on increasingly vivid green, purple, pink and white tones as the weather cools, pairing well with chrysanthemums and pansies. Heucheras offer another option, valued mainly for colourful foliage ranging from bright green to reddish, burgundy, purple or nearly black — and being perennials, they can later be moved into garden beds.
When refreshing autumn pots, experts recommend removing old roots, refreshing the top layer of soil, and leaving enough space for new plants. Good drainage remains essential, as containers can still dry out even as autumn rainfall increases.
