13 Fall Landscape Ideas for a Gorgeous Autumn Garden
Consider composting, container gardens, and more ahead of winter.
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Just because the summer sun isn't shining as bright come autumn doesn't mean your outdoor space has to follow suit! There are so many ways to make your garden glimmer with color and interest as the seasons shift. Classic outdoor fall decorations like pumpkins, mums, and hay bales are a great place to start, but why not go beyond that by undertaking some small landscaping projects and introducing fall flowers to the mix? By growing fall vegetables and evergreens, tidying up your yard, and decorating your outdoor space, you'll ensure long-lasting changes in your garden that you can enjoy for upcoming seasons—and even years—to come.
If you've been putting off planting, fall is the ideal time to put in new perennials, shrubs, and trees because it's less stressful on the plants. With cooler temperatures and more plentiful rainfall, your new plantings will have time to settle in and establish their roots before the winter weather sets in. Make sure to buy plants that can withstand cold temperatures by checking the hardiness zone in your area and be sure to plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes. As long as you keep everything well-watered (especially if it's a particularly dry autumn), your yard will thrive throughout the fall season. Here are our favorite easy landscaping ideas for your yard and garden.
Find even more fall inspiration:
Add Fall Container Plants
Plant Trees and Shrubs
Surprisingly, fall is a great time to plant evergreen and ornamental trees in your yard! In autumn, the weather and soil conditions can help trees develop a strong root system before the summer heat kicks in. If you're looking for evergreens, go for boxwood, spruce, and pine trees. On the other hand, if you want to add stunning autumn hues to your yard, plant sugar maple, Japanese maple, dogwood, or redbud trees.
Create a Fall Compost Pile
There's no better time than fall to start a compost pile, especially with all that fallen foliage! Instead of throwing away those big piles of fall leaves after raking them, add them to a compost pile along with vegetal food scraps and twigs. By spring, you'll have a nutrient-rich additive for your garden beds that'll improve your soil quality!
Refresh Your Yard
Spring cleaning may be the norm, but fall is also a great time to refresh your yard or garden! The cooler months following summer are great for tidying up your yard before spring rolls around again. To start, get rid of unruly weeds and wilting annuals. Then, start patching up bare spots in your lawn with overseeding and fertilizer.
Grow Fall Veggies
Your bounty of homegrown veggies doesn't have to end just because summer has! There are so many fast-growing fall vegetables you can plant in late August and even September. Root vegetables and most greens, like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard, can be harvested young. They'll also add so much color and texture to your space!
Start a Pollinator Garden
It’s never a bad time to plant flowers and shrubs to support the pollinator population in your yard. Add perennials that extend the season for bees and butterflies, such as black-eyed Susan, autumn-blooming sedums, asters, and Shasta daisies.
Create an Outdoor Dining Space
If you never got around to it during the hot summer months, autumn is a great time to create an outdoor oasis. A small table and chairs are all you need for evening meals al fresco.
Add Decorative Accents
A simple obelisk or trellis can be a focal point in the garden, long after the first frost. Place it where it’s visible from indoors so you have something of interest to see in the winter garden. Bonus: Add lights to it for the holidays!
Create Cozy Seating Areas
Fall is a great time to sit and enjoy the cooler weather and the stunning panorama of colors. Create a cozy seating area by placing Adirondack chairs or a simple wicker chair where you can soak up nature’s beauty. Oh, and don't forget the cozy blanket!
Decorate with Pumpkins
This might seem obvious, but decorating with pumpkins is one of the easiest ways to get your home ready for fall. Add different color pumpkins, including orange, white, and green, throughout the yard and on the front porch.
Plant Bulbs for Spring
It might seem like an exercise in delayed gratification (and it is!), but it's a good idea to start planting spring-blooming bulbs right now. Many flowers such as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths must be planted in the fall for blooms next spring. Trust us: You’ll be so happy and grateful when you see your flowers pop up after a long winter.
Add Exterior Lighting
Adding a few outdoor lighting options will make the long, dark days of winter a little brighter. Update exterior lights and add lighting along walkways. Even a solar-powered LED lantern or string lights on the patio can make a seating area feel more intimate and special during fall gatherings.
Bring in Cold-Sensitive Plants
There’s really no point in allowing all your plants to die back in the first frost. Bring in plants that can be enjoyed as houseplants (dig them up and put them in pots). Plants to consider include rosemary, begonias, hibiscus, and succulents. Also, in cold climates, don't forget to dig up tender bulbs such as dahlias and gladioli after the first frost to save for planting next spring.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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