Get Your Front Porch Fall Ready

Practical ideas and inspiration for a beautiful autumn front porch or entryway

We love, love, love fall here on the farm! The temps in Middle Georgia are finally starting to drop, and I am ready to get my porch in seasonal shape. I really enjoy decorating my front door and porch for fall, and then making small holiday tweaks when Halloween and Thanksgiving roll around. Today, I want to give you some inspiration for your fall porch decor. Don’t take this as an exact recipe, but more of an idea of what ingredients go best together. Use what you have and what is local to your area and climate. I found most of my plants at my local Home Depot! Support your small-town hardware store or nursery if you can, and purchase plants that thrive in your zone.

First and foremost, invest in large-scale copper pots! I truly believe this is where you need to invest in your container gardens. People often choose to skimp on containers, but it’s an investment that really matters. These containers are eye-catching pieces and can be used over and over for years! I found mine at Scott’s Antiques in Atlanta, and—of course—use them year-round. If you can’t find good true copper pots, using Rust-Oleum copper spray paint on other metal pots works great, too. You can also use large baskets or other planters—whatever matches your space best.

Plant Inspiration 

·             Crepe Myrtle (at least 6 to 10 feet tall)

·             Large copper pots 

·             Real and faux pumpkins (all shapes, sizes, and colors)

·             Lambs Ear

·             Rooster Grass

·             Antherium 

·             Heuchera

·             Variegated Ivy

·             Carex

·             Cabbages

·             Kale

·             Ajuga 

·             Bittersweet Vine

·             Dried oranges

·             Dried limes

·             Large wicker baskets

Use the plant list above as a guide to some great fall options that thrive in cooler weather and even survive mild frosts and winters! The plants, especially the lamb’s ears, green kale, and cabbages, have silver undertones that complement the copper hues well. All of these plants can then be planted in your yard later on to enjoy all winter long. 

Any young trees with colorful branches work well, like maple or crepe myrtle. Or you can even cut large branches off an existing tree. Water everything very well before putting it all together so the soil is moist and continue to water throughout the season. Make sure there is a hole in your container for drainage. This project is a classic stuff-and-shove—you won’t remove any plants from their plastic containers. (I told you it’s easy!) I started with the tree, then added lamb’s ears, cabbages, and kale in a triangle arrangement. Then, layer the other plants and grasses on top, like carex and antherium. (Tip: I try to always use gallon-size plants. You know my motto is “go big or go home!”) 

I added one of my favorite wicker baskets in front of the pot as a spilling cornucopia of pumpkins, bittersweet vine, additional plants, and dried oranges and limes. This aspect of your porch can be changed throughout the season for different holidays. I used both real and faux pumpkins to combine lots of colors and textures. Sprinkling in a few faux pumpkins among the real ones is also a great way to save money—you can use them year after year.

Now, during this lovely weather, is the perfect time to get outdoors and revamp your porch. I cannot wait to see what all you do with your fall porch decor! What plants are your autumn go-tos? Share your photos with me on Facebook and Instagram @CarmenJohnstonGardens!