How to Plan Fall Color for Your Property

As summer winds down and the weather starts to cool, landscapes can start to lose their color. Seasonal flowers fade, turf growth slows, and high-visibility areas may not offer the same bright, friendly welcome they did a few months earlier.

Fall color displays can be the boost your property needs to make a great impression. A successful display involves more than selecting flowers in familiar autumn shades. The strongest plans consider regional growing conditions, the character of the property, and where color will make the greatest impact.

Fall is also a good time to think ahead. By ordering and planting your spring-flowering bulbs before winter, you can set the stage for another wave of seasonal color in the spring.

Right Plant, Right Place, Right Impression

Local climate matters. In colder regions, pansies, violas, ornamental kale, cabbage, and some dianthus varieties can provide color through fall and into winter, although repeated freezes may shorten the display. Mums are also popular; they provide dense foliage and fall color, particularly when placed in containers. In mild-winter climates, many of those same plants can continue performing into spring. Snapdragons, petunias, and sweet alyssum may provide additional options, depending on your temperatures and site conditions.

Before choosing a plant palette, consider:

• When temperatures typically begin to drop 
• How much sun or shade the planting area receives 
• Whether the soil drains properly 
• How the area is irrigated 
• How long the display needs to remain attractive

See our Ultimate Guide to Seasonal Color for even more details.

Design for the Property, Not Just the Season

A fall color plan should feel like part of the property. Consider the building’s architecture, exterior materials, existing landscape, and brand colors. For example, deep purples, silvery foliage, rich greens, and burgundy tones can create a distinctive seasonal fall look. As the University of Georgia notes, “With their foliage in brilliant shades of lavender, purple, pink, red, and white, remember that kales, cabbages, and mustards add some pizzazz to the fall and winter garden like no other plants can do.”

Strategic placement can produce a stronger effect than spreading the same budget across every planting bed. A multi-family community may benefit from welcoming color near the leasing office and resident gathering spaces. An commercial campus might prioritize building entrances, monument signs, and outdoor seating areas. Color can also help define major pedestrian routes or create focal points near high-traffic buildings.

Containers, including urns, planters, and hanging baskets, provide additional flexibility by bringing fresh and unexpected color to areas where permanent planting beds are limited.

When planning, start with where people experience your property first and most often, including:

• Main entrances and arrival drives 
• Leasing and management offices 
• Monument signs 
• Walkways and building approaches 
• Courtyards and gathering areas 
• Planters near doors or outdoor seating

Build Performance Into the Plan

Each season represents new opportunities to keep your property beautiful all year long. Spring sets you up for success after the threat of frost has passed. Summer is the perfect time for more heat-tolerant plant material. And installing fall annuals is ideal after the weather starts to cool. But plant selection is only part of the equation. Soil condition and ongoing care can be the difference between a lackluster display and one that is healthy and vibrant.

Before installation, planting beds may need nutrients replenished to support new growth. A 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch can help regulate soil temperature and limit weeds, while a consistent weed-management program reduces competition for water and nutrients. Existing perennials can also serve as a foundation, with annuals filling gaps and adding a flexible seasonal accent.

BrightView Can Help You Add Color

Our local teams understand the regional climate, seasonal timing, and plant material that perform best in your area. We can evaluate your property’s growing conditions, identify where seasonal color will have the greatest impact, and create a plan that aligns with your landscape goals and budget.

Classic fall curb appeal installed by our landscape professionals will create a dramatic seasonal display making your property stand out. Contact your BrightView team today to create a fall color display designed specifically for you.