Tricks for Taller Fall Container Gardens
One of my online students recently emailed a great question to me and I thought you might find my answer helpful. She was searching for a tall grass to use as a Fall centerpiece, or "Thriller", in her shade planters. Keep in mind that I teach and preach TALL container gardens — I like my Thrillers to be at least as tall as the pot they’re in, if not twice as tall. The proper scale of your pot and plants depends on your unique space, and I cover the topic in depth in my foundations course, The Ultimate Guide to Container Gardening.
TALL GRASSES FOR CONTAINER GARDENS
Back to my answer. While the tall grasses I like to use need full sun, you can sometimes get away with putting them in the shade for the Fall season since it's fairly short, about 6-8 weeks. My tallest go-to grasses here in central Virginia (Zone 7A) include Miscanthus ‘Gracillimus’, Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, and Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’.
BRANCH “BOUQUETS” AS CENTERPIECES
For a different, longer lasting solution in the shade, however, I suggested this student use a bouquet of cut branches. These can be bundled and zip tied to a wooden stake, then inserted into the center of a pot with fall flowers and foliage planted at the base. Alternatively, branches can be inserted individually after you’ve planted...just be sure to use enough pieces to create an airy, yet visible and wide "V" formation.
In the following three images, I used Fantail Willow - the blades are broad, woody, and curly, and they create a spooky vibe, perfect for this time of year. To fill in at the base of my bouquets and help soften the transition down to the plants, I added preserved Eucalpytus in colors to complement each design.
Other types of branches you could use include Birch poles, red or yellow Dogwood, Flame Willow, and Curly Willow.
Sourcing and Storing branches
Most branches and Eucalyptus like the ones featured here can be procured online through a quick Google search. You may also find them at a local florist, floral supply shop, or even a craft store. They can be pricey, but with proper care and storage, you can reuse them in future seasons!
Thinner branches like Dogwood and Willows will become brittle as they dry, so handle them carefully when you remove and store them. They can also rot if they sit in too much moisture, so allow them to dry completely before storing, and trim off the bottom part that was sitting in the soil if it’s mushy (this will slightly shorten the height of your branches, though).
Birch poles hold up well for several years if cleaned and stored in a dry location in between uses. If the top end gets black with mildew, use a saw to cut off a slice and reveal fresh, clean wood.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FALL CONTAINER GARDENS
For more Fall container garden inspiration, consider taking my mini course, Fall Container Gardens, for 30 minutes of prerecorded video demonstrations and some great printouts that will help you elevate your container gardens with ease!
All the best,