Fall Planter Ideas for Every Porch Style: What You Need to Know in 2025
Article may have affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Big thanks for supporting my small business.
Wondering what to put in planters in the fall? Whether you’re team mums-and-pumpkins or prefer something unexpected like succulents and cabbage, I’ve rounded up my favorite fall planter ideas you can recreate using containers you already have. No need to start from scratch!
Living in New England, it’s practically a rite of passage to swap summer blooms for autumn colors. Let’s dive into creative ideas that work with any budget-and will have your front porch looking cozy and festive in no time.
What can I put in a planter for fall?
You can fill fall planters with mums, ornamental cabbage, grasses, pumpkins, and seasonal foliage like kale or even dried cornstalks-perfect for outdoor decor that feels both festive and easy.
Fall Planter Ideas Front Porches
There’s nothing like a big cozy planter to welcome guests. Think layered textures: mums, ornamental kale, and twigs tucked beside pumpkins. Bonus points if you add a pop of burgundy or burnt orange to echo the falling leaves.
I love fall planters with mums and pumpkins!
Use tall grasses or sticks in the back for height, and cluster smaller items like gourds or dried florals near the base.
Stacking containers is fair game too-it’s like a pumpkin spice latte for your porch.
Fall Planter Ideas With Pumpkins
One of my favorite tricks?
Carve out a pumpkin and use it as the planter itself. Keep the mum in its plastic pot and just pop it in-instant charm.
Add moss, cabbage, or even succulents around the base.
Pumpkins make perfect seasonal planters!
Want a sleeker look?
Try white pumpkins with cool-toned succulents or greenery. That mix of natural textures feels fancy without trying too hard.
Fall Planter Ideas for Outdoor Decor
Your outdoor planters can be as creative as your living room decor. Galvanized tubs, wooden crates, even wheelbarrows are fair game.
Use mums, dried grasses, and faux berry stems for longevity.
Mix faux and real-no one will know, especially if you tuck in some crunchy leaves you grabbed from the yard.
A rustic wheelbarrow makes a perfect fall container.
Fall Planter Ideas With Mums
The MVP of fall, mums come in so many colors you could build your whole theme around them.
Try layering them in a tall urn with cascading ivy or tucked around pumpkins in a metal bucket.
For a DIY spin, I carved out a pumpkin and dropped in a pot of mums-super simple, but makes a statement.
DIY mum planters don’t get easier than this.
Fall Planter Ideas With Succulents
Succulents might not be your first thought for fall, but paired with miniature pumpkins, moss, and weathered wood, they’re stunning. Use a shallow bowl or even a vintage drawer as your planter.
The Hip Homestead made the cutest fall succulent planter with pumpkins. I love this!
Succulents are also great for warmer climates where traditional fall blooms might struggle. Plus, they transition beautifully into winter with just a few tweaks.
Fall Planter Ideas With Cornstalks
Cornstalks bring in that farmhouse feel: tall, textural, and a little bit dramatic.
Tie a bundle to a large planter or porch rail (I tied to our columns), then layer with gourds, cabbage, and pansies.
Cornstalks instantly elevate your planter game.
For an extra cozy vibe, drape a flannel scarf or small blanket around the base-practical and Pinterest-worthy.
What I Learned About Fall Planting
I start planting my fall containers the first week of September, mostly because my summer flowers have given up and the pots are begging for something fresh.
Side note, a couple of years ago, I used faux fall flowers to create the planters at our front door. While nothing can ever replace “real” fall plants, this faux version created a nice pop of color.
Lesson learned?
Mix textures and heights. And don’t overthink it!
Some of the prettiest planters I’ve made were with grocery store mums and twigs from the yard.
FAQ
Start in early September when summer flowers fade and cooler temps settle in.
Absolutely. Faux stems and pumpkins help stretch your planter’s lifespan.
Yes, especially in sunny spots. Mums and cabbage still need moisture.
Galvanized tubs, tall urns, wheelbarrows, or even hollowed pumpkins all work beautifully.
Need supplies? Shop my favorite fall planters and porch decor here
Fall planters are such a simple way to bring that cozy, seasonal feel right to your doorstep. Whether you’re working with mums, pumpkins, or a bit of both, there’s no wrong way to do fall.
More Fall Decorating Ideas
- Farmhouse Coastal Fall Mantel with Blue and Green
- 50 Fall Decorating Ideas including planters, front door wreaths and indoor mantels
- Amazon’s Fall Steals & Deals on decor plus more this year
- Blue Fall Mantel & Decor Ideas
- Fall Front Door Wreath Ideas & Planters
- 25 No Carve Pumpkins Ideas – how to decorate pumpkins
- How To Make A Fall Wreath With Leaves
- How To Decorate A Small Front Porch & Steps With Fall Planters
- Fall Decorating Front Porch and Full Fall Home Tour
- Favorite Fall Planter Ideas
- Fall Wreaths – spruce up your front door for Fall
- Mediterranean Fall Home Tour (our recent home tour)
- Over 200 Fall Decorating Ideas (visit our Fall category page dedicated to all things autumn)
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
