How Do You Prepare Containers for Autumn? As summer winds down, it's important not to neglect your containers. They will require either extra care or to be changed out completely. Your tropical annuals, in particular, won’t last forever, so it’s time to make a choice. You may like. Endofsummer brings unique pest challenges to Florida container gardens. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions while whiteflies and scale insects often reach peak populations now. Container with coleus. Keep containers looking good with water, fertilizer and the right pot. Your containers may look lovely in early summer, but what happens when the weather gets hot and the summer gets long? Sometimes the containers get bedraggled. SummerContainerCare. By Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART.Metal containers can get so hot that they fry a plant's roots. Save metal containers for plants that won't be in direct sun all day. Or pot up a plant in plastic and use the metal container as a cachepot. The first of Monty's care tips for summercontainers is that to promote root and flower formation without overly lush foliage, feed should be weekly and high in potash. Gardening Etc Newsletter. The Home Of Outdoor Living. The onset of autumn doesn’t have to mean the endof the container gardening season. Learn how to create timeless fall containers. “For a container that provides easy-care winter interest and cold-weather beauty, use ‘Touch of Gold’ Holly (available from the Southern Living Plant Collection) as your centerpiece and complement it with seasonal color in deep blues, purples, and whites,” says Vater... Your containers may need double or triple the water they needed last spring. Timing. Your plants may be big and thirsty, but you still have to take the weather into account. Hot days and dry air parch plants, but, depending on your climate, summer can also bring heavy rains that take care of... Container gardening lets you grow summer plants in small spaces. It works on balconies or big patios. Knowing the basics can turn your space into a lush oasis. Good garden care begins with the right container setup. Choosing the right soil and container is key for healthy plants. SummerContainerCare. Container plants need constant monitoring in summer. Soils dry out quickly, which makes regular watering a must. SummerContainerCareSummercontainer gardening focuses on maintenance and succession planting. Hot weather increases water needs dramatically, and you may need to water containers twice daily during heat waves. Make sure to get them to enjoy in the upcoming months. The elephant ear is a neat plant, and stand out in the landscape beds, by the endof the summer. The cannas make great centerpieces in pots or additions to flower beds.Tyler's Tips- SummerContainerCare. SummerContainerCare Tips. Pot up to a larger container which increases room for lots and lots of roots. Plus it provides more soil for holding moisture. Use a high-quality potting soil and consider adding water-holding crystals to the soil mix. Essential Preparation and ContainerCare. Any planter intended to remain outdoors must have a clear drainage hole to allow excess water to escape.