Calathea

What are some good "cool-season annuals" I can grow in my window boxes as fall rolls in? I want to keep things colorful!

Answer: Who says beautiful blooms are just for spring and summer? Trust me, you can keep gorgeous flowers going in your beds, borders, and containers well into fall — and if you live somewhere with mild winters, right through the cold months too.

Here are some of my favorite annuals for adding a lovely splash of color to window boxes:

•Chrysanthemums (mums): These are such classics in the garden, whether it's spring or fall. They're technically perennials but I often treat them as annuals. I love how they fill fall window boxes with delightful shapes and radiant colors — from whites, yellows, and oranges to pinks, reds, and purples. Choose cultivars for your desired bloom time, water frequently, space them properly, and give at least 4 hours of direct sun.•Pansies bloom in just about every shade of the rainbow — I'm always amazed at the range! They're perfect for popping vibrant color into borders, beds, and window boxes. Pansies love humus-rich, well-drained soil and regular watering. Don't overcrowd them, and pinch off spent flowers to keep the blooms coming.•Alyssums (Lobularia maritima) burst with the most fragrant, delicate little flowers in soft whites, pinks, and purples — perfect for adding a touch of sweetness to fall window boxes. In my experience, they're super easy to grow in full to part sun and well-drained soil. They can handle drier conditions but I water about twice a week and feed monthly with a general fertilizer.•Snapdragons have those quirky, eye-catching blooms in everything from bold reds, oranges, and yellows to soft pinks, purples, and white. These cool-loving flowers are happiest with lots of sun and rich, moist but well-drained soil. I always deadhead and fertilize mine regularly.•Other great fall options include purple fountain grass, ornamental kale and cabbage for gorgeous foliage, and asters, sedum, petunias, marigolds, gazanias, lobelias and verbenas for flowers.

Image: Aftabbanoori----------------------------------------------------I'd recommend trying the Fabulous & Unusual Annuals Collection — it's full of easy-to-grow, old-fashioned cottage garden favorites like Marble Arch Salvia, Bells of Ireland, Monarda Bergamo, Pride of Gibraltar Cerinthe, and Pink & Purple Agrostemma.

In The Nonstop Garden, you'll find everything you need to create a productive, beautiful garden with smart plant picks and four-season designs — it's really changed how I plan my garden.

Download the Smart Gardening Techniques: Fall Tasks so you're all set when fall arrives — I always find it handy.

Get a head start on fall with the Garden How-To University: Fall Gardening Tips & Spring Planning — it's packed with useful advice.

I'm obsessed with this beautiful Wrought Iron & Oval Copper design — it adds such a gorgeous touch to window boxes.