Woodie’s Picks: Cozy Favorites For a Gilmore Girls Fall
As we wrap up the long weekend and officially close the chapter on summer, it’s time to lean into all things fall: sweater weather, pumpkin spice, and that signature cozy charm. If you’ve ever dreamed of recreating the warm, small-town feel of Stars Hollow, the beloved home base of Gilmore Girls, your landscape is the perfect place to start.
Fall is one of the best times to plant, laying the foundation for a welcoming garden that brings comfort and beauty year after year. In this blog, we’ll share the essential elements of a cozy fall landscape and spotlight four of our favorite plants to help you channel that timeless Gilmore Girls magic right in your own backyard.
Tips For Creating a Cozy Fall Landscape
Warm Colors
The most obvious way to light up your fall landscape is to incorporate the classic autumn hues of golden yellows, burnt oranges, and fiery reds. There is simply nothing better than sipping on a warm beverage in the morning, with a fall breeze, as you look out to a world melting into the warmth of the fall season. Whether through the use of deciduous trees and shrubs, or bold fall annuals like mums and peppers, you can easily transform a blank canvas into a vibrant tapestry of beauty for the fall season.
Ample Use of Texture
Beyond bold color, we recommend emphasizing the use of varying textures in your fall landscape. One of the best ways to do this is by incorporating ornamental grasses into the yard’s design. The unique plumes that often emerge from grasses in the late summer through the fall season add such a fun element to the landscape and impeccable layers of dimension and beauty to a space.
Emphasis on Evergreens
The final tip for creating a cozy fall landscape is one that you may not expect–the use of evergreens! While the primary focus of fall is typically on the color-changing foliage, that sense of evergreen permanence is a necessity in our eyes. Giving the warm foliage a lush backdrop to contrast with, and providing beauty and vibrance in the winter season, evergreen trees and shrubs are a must-have in any well-designed landscape. Whether it’s a lush wall of arborvitae trees or a clean hedge of perfectly rounded boxwoods, evergreens are the glue that holds a landscape together.
Must-Have Plants To Ignite Warmth and Beauty In Your Fall Yard
October Glory Maple
Our number one pick for any and every eye-catching autumn landscape is the bold and breathtaking October Glory Maple. Known for some of the most vibrant autumn foliage of any red maple, with leaves turning a rich, fiery red that lasts longer into the season than many other varieties. The specimen establishes permanence quickly, typically adding 1–2 feet of growth per year once adapted to its environment. A key selling factor of this maple, beyond its fall color, is its ability to hold onto its foliage for impressive periods of time. The tree’s foliage often persists well into November, making it one of the last trees to drop its leaves.
Muhly Grass
In late summer to fall, Muhlenburgia grass erupts in airy, cloud-like plumes of pink or white(depending on variety), creating a soft, dreamlike effect in the landscape. Beyond its dreamy appearance, Muhly grass is loved for its drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and adaptable nature. When most plants are fading and headed into a dreary slump for the cool weather, Pink and White Muhly Grass are making their yearly debut. Muhly Grass is often used in mass plantings for dramatic fall color, along borders and walkways for soft texture, or as an accent in containers and mixed flower beds.
It also works well in naturalistic, coastal, or wildlife-friendly gardens, adding movement and interest year-round.
Fall Annuals
No fall garden is complete without the electric hues from your favorite fall annuals. From sweet mounds of red and orange Chrysanthemums to vibrant pops of seasonal fun with ornamental peppers, all wrapped into a perfect fall porch pot display with ornamental kale and feathery celosia, your yard will undoubtedly be the talk of the town when you incorporate fall annuals.
Boxwoods
A final favorite we love to create a cozy fall landscape reminiscent of the New England magic portrayed in Stars Hollow of Gilmore Girls, is the classic and iconic boxwood shrub.
From lining walkways to bordering homes and framing entryways, boxwoods are a timeless classic that radiates upscale elegance and small-town charm all at once. From the smaller accent plants like the English Dwarf Boxwood, to the larger hedge-worthy plants like the Winter Gem Boxwood, you really can’t go wrong with planting this evergreen classic in your landscape.
Shop Cozy Fall Landscaping Plants Online Today
Fall is the perfect season to bring warmth, texture, and charm to your landscape, just like the cozy streets of Stars Hollow. By layering vibrant colors, varied textures, and evergreen structure—and incorporating standout plants like October Glory Maple, Muhly Grass, fall annuals, and classic boxwoods—you can create a welcoming outdoor space that delights through every season. Start planting now and watch your yard transform into a Gilmore Girls–inspired haven of comfort and beauty.