With crisp air providing a welcome respite from the sticky humidity of summer and vibrant foliage combining in a blaze of spectacular color, it’s no surprise that many Midwesterners count fall as their favorite season. Celebrate the beauty of this special time of year—and make a striking impression on visitors—with these tips for refreshing your front yard from Minneapolis experts Toni Tamm of Sunnyside Gardens and Scott Endres of Tangletown Gardens.
1. Explore Beyond Florals
Tangletown Gardens
Flowers will come and go, but interesting plant forms, foliage, and even fruiting branches like bittersweet and rose hips will create additional beauty,” says Endres. Consider ornamental vegetables like red express cabbage and redbor kale, as well as ornamental grasses that can withstand cooler temperatures such as pampas grass, ogon sweet flag, and red rooster sedge. Lemon ball sedum can also add lovely bright highlights to containers.
2. Customize Your Container Designs
Sunnyside Gardens
“We always recommend ‘a thriller, a filler, and a spiller’—something tall and eye-catching, something to fill the space around it, and something that goes over the edge,” explains Tamm. “I’m a big fan of mondo grass; you can pair it with bright orange mums and a little croton to lean into the Halloween vibe, or create something moodier with deep reds and purples for a more sophisticated look.”
3. Focus on Natural Beauty
Sunnyside Gardens
Keep seasonal decor tasteful and timeless by avoiding man-made objects in favor of organic materials. A door wreath of dried botanicals and bittersweet vines can make an elegant first impression, whereas a couple pumpkin stacks will add some whimsy to your walkway. “The Cinderella pumpkin is great for stacking in fun formations,” says Tamm, “and the One Too Many pumpkin looks like a bloodshot eye, which is perfect for Halloween!”
4. Let Your Arrangements Evolve
Tangletown Gardens
“Don’t be afraid to edit—keep the winners from summer that can withstand some autumn chilliness, and let the heat-lovers make their way to the compost pile,” says Endres. Unique sticks, dried cones, pods, and other preserved botanicals can add interest and linger into winter arrangements as well.
Read this next: 5 Tips for Fall Yard Cleanup
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