Fall is long and luxurious in this area, with plenty of time to entertain outdoors, so why not invite seasonal container gardens to your party? Think about where the pot will sit- you don't want to clash with your house color or your deck cushions. When changing your summer pots to fall arrangements, you can take the opportunity to clean your garden containers and fill them with fresh soil.

Plants aren't likely to grow much as the weather cools, so your fall pot should be planted full.

You don't have to create a fall container garden from scratch. You can simply swap out summery annuals with fall colors, like ornamental kale, a bronze heuchera, orange and red lantana, or miniature pepper plants. Add a gourd or a tiny pumpkin to signal the season.

Don't forget to water. Cool weather can quickly dry out pots. On the other hand, plants aren't growing rapidly in the fall, and the days are cooler. You won't need to water as often as you did during the heat of summer.

If you think you need to fertilize, use a water-soluble product. Slow-release fertilizers are often triggered by temperature. Lower temperatures mean no fertilizer will be released.

When planting, include herbs such as sage and parsley and vegetables like spinach, chard and lettuce. They can handle the cold and are edible, too.

Check the growing zones on the plants you are choosing. You are safe with plants hardy to two zones colder. Choose plants that will not only withstand cooler weather but will bloom despite shorter days.

Coleus and sweet potato vine seem perfect selections for a fall container. But both will be damaged by the first hint of frost.

Susan Reimer