Cool-season hanging baskets are one of my favorite ways to bring vibrant color and texture to my outdoor space when temperatures start to drop.

Unlike summer baskets that bask in the heat, these arrangements thrive in cooler weather, brightening up my patio, porch or balcony when most plants are winding down for the season. These baskets keep my garden alive with color well into winter and early spring, offering a refreshing contrast when the rest of the landscape seems dormant.

I choose frost-tolerant plants like pansies, violas, ornamental kale and snapdragons, which are known for their hardiness and ability to thrive in cooler conditions. They form a beautiful display, providing long-lasting blooms and stunning foliage that withstands chilly nights.

One of my favorites is the Wave Petunias, particularly the Easy Wave Series.

These are perfect for cool-season hanging baskets because of their cold-hardiness (down to 40 degrees), vigorous growth, cascading habit and prolific blooms. They provide a burst of color wherever they are used.

The Red Velour variety has deep, velvety red flowers. Another standout is the Easy Wave Violet with purple blooms that practically glow. Together, these varieties create an eye-catching combination.

Another stunning arrangement is a pairing of Cool Wave Golden Yellow pansies with Candy Showers snapdragons.

Cool Wave Golden Yellow pansies are known for their vigorous, spreading growth and bright golden blooms. The trailing habit of Candy Showers snapdragons -- with their mix of pink, red, yellow, purple and orange blooms -- adds a lively cascade of color. When combined, the result is a dynamic, cheerful display that’s perfect for the cooler months.

Cool-season hanging baskets need plenty of light to flourish. Ideally, you should place them in a location that gets at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily, though some plants like ornamental kale can handle partial shade.

Cool-season plants grow slower than their summer counterparts, but they still benefit from regular feeding. I like to use a slow-release fertilizer when I first plant my baskets, providing them with a steady supply of nutrients.

For an extra boost, use a water-soluble fertilizer every few weeks to help maintain colorful blooms and healthy foliage.

Petunias, especially varieties from the Wave series, are heavy feeders, so they appreciate a bit more attention to fertilizer application. This will help them to maintain their vigorous growth and abundant blooms.

Regular maintenance, including pruning and deadheading, keeps the baskets looking fresh and encourages new blooms. Pansies and snapdragons respond well to deadheading, which prevents them from going to seed and prolongs their blooming period.

For Wave petunias, their self-cleaning nature means they require less deadheading, but occasional pruning helps control their size and keep their trailing habit neat and full.

While many of these plants can handle light frosts, it’s still wise to keep an eye on the forecast, especially during periods of hard frost or freezing temperatures.

If a particularly cold night is expected, I protect my baskets by covering them with a frost cloth or moving them to a more sheltered area like a garage or covered porch. This extra care can make a huge difference in extending the life of the plants.

There are endless possibilities for cool-season hanging basket combinations. I love experimenting with different plants to bring color to my garden from fall through spring.