Outdoor Fall Decorating Ideas

Some of us live in regions that experience all four seasons. Others get more like two or three. Regardless, you can get your fall fix on by creating the look and feel of autumn on your front porch, in your entryway, on you deck, in your yard -- you get the idea.

Fall outdoor decor can stretch from just after Labor Day through early December, with some clever adding and subtracting along the way. This picture gallery illustrates how color combinations, unique pairings, and texture all play into a striking falll display for your home and yard.

Ornamental grasses are becoming increasingly popular as both an accent plant and focal point in many landscape designs. Although many of these beautiful grasses' growing seasons are summer and fall, in some parts of the western United States, it can bloom and be a mainstay in the garden through the winter. Most care instructions advise to cut it down to a few inches above-ground in late winter to early spring and to divide clumps when the grass's growth begins to weaken. In arid, mild-climate regions ornamental grasses can grow throughout the year.

Learn how to groom ornamental grasses so that they'll look good year 'round.

For stunning, over-the-top, Vegas-style ideas for your autumn decor, take a look at what the 150-or-so designers come up with at the Bellagio's autumn Harvest Show, which is on display through November each year.

While it's a challenge to copy the theatrical Vegas-style design techniques employed at the conservatory, you might grab an idea here and there. If nothing else, the pictures are fun to look at.

Have you ever wondered how gardening centers put together those hanging baskets with a few different plants spilling out? Debbie Anderson shows you the tips and tricks for putting together all the different elements that make a professional-looking fall hanging basket for your porch or deck.

Who doesn't get even a little excited about the change that fall briings? It often kicks off the most enjoyable time of year. Chances are you might be planning to host a football-watching get together or a holiday party. why not set the stage for what's inside by greeting guests fall decorations outside your house.

How about some inspiration: Take a stroll in your neighborhood to see what others are up to on their front porches. Or take a cruise your favorite areas, looking for other people's interpretations of fall decor for their entryways. It's one of the best ways to enjoy the colors of the season and get ideas to take home.