DIY September Floral Arrangement + Table with Apples, Hydrangeas & Sunflowers

Welcome September with a DIY floral arrangement and centerpiece incorporating apples, hydrangeas, and sunflowers for a fall tablescape. You’ll find a step-by-step guide, as well as additional fall floral and table inspiration from my Monday Morning Blooms’ friends.

Happy September and Labor Day for those in the U.S.!

It’s one of my favorite days of the month, when I join my

Monday Morning Blooms’ friends to share some flower therapy.

Lidy, Pam and I are happy to welcome back

Jennifer, from Celebrating Everyday Life,

joining us as a special guest ‘bloomer’ today!

You can my blogging friends’ links to their beautiful floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.  As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Fall is my favorite time of year and always look forward to turning the calendar page to September! September is a month of transition, with summer’s last burst of color fading and deepening into the warmth and richness of fall. One of my favorite ways to welcome the season is by creating a floral arrangement for the table that reflects both harvest and garden abundance.

My inspiration was this antique wooden dove-tailed Apple Sun Cured Tobacco Box, found at a favorite antique mall this summer. I was drawn to the apple graphics and timeworn patina of the rustic box and farmhouse vibe. I like to think ‘outside the vase’ ;) so the box seemed perfect to pair with fresh seasonal flowers and create a centerpiece that feels both nostalgic and welcoming!

A fun find and dating on the bottom of the box:

The bottom of the box reads R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Factory No. 8 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

12-2-10 — December 2, 1910!

Here the DIY details and materials to create a flower arrangement to welcome fall:

🍎 Wooden box (or any rustic-style wooden crate)

🍎 Plastic container to fit inside the box (to hold water)

🍎 Chicken wire & flower frog (for structure and stability)

🍎 Bamboo skewers (for securing apples)

🍎 Apples

🍎 Limelight hydrangea blooms

🍎 Sunflowers (for bold, cheerful contrast)

🍎 Garden foliage (I used Abelia foliage, Crape Myrtle blooms, and Chaste Tree seed pods)

🍎 Floral shears

Step 1:  Prep your Box or Container

Line your wooden box with a plastic container or vase to hold water. To support the apples, I used a heavy metal cage flower frog in the bottom of the plastic container. A piece of chicken wire supports the flower stems at the top, creating a grid to hold everything in place.

Step 2:  Add the Greenery

Fill your container with room temperature water mixed with flower food / floral preservative.

Start by filling in with foliage around the edges of the box; I used abelia.

🌿 When cutting flowers and or foliage from your garden or landscape, cut your stems in the early morning with they’re fully hydrated and not stressed from the heat. Cut your stems at a 45-degree angle for maximum water uptake and remove any leaves below the water line. Place them in a clean bucket of water mixed with flower food / preservative, in a cool spot, away from sun.

🌿 Allow flowers and foliage to condition, preferably overnight, or for a minimum of 4 hours, to prevent drooping or wilting of your stems.

🌿 Let some stems spill over for a loose, garden-fresh look. The greenery will create the framework for your arrangement and help soften the lines of the container.

Step 3:  Add Hydrangeas

Next, add your hydrangeas. The creamy-green limelight hydrangea blooms have begun their fall metamorphosis, changing to over pink. Tuck them into the chicken wire to build shape and fullness and hide the framework of your chicken wire, covering the gaps between the plastic container and box.

Step 4:  Add Sunflowers:

Sunflowers are the perfect flower to transition from summer to fall with their sunny yellow rays and warm brown centers! Tuck them in among the hydrangeas as accents and to provide a cheery pop of color.

Step 5:  Accent with Apples:

Insert your skewers into the blossom end of the apple, about an inch into the core, placing the skewers through the chicken wire and frog to support them. As the bamboo skewers are food safe, your apples can used for fall baking after your flowers are faded.

Step 6: Finishing Touches:

I added some Black Diamond Crape Myrtle blooms for a vibrant pop of red and tucked in some seed pods from our Chaste tree (Vitex) for texture.

Step back and adjust the balance, adding a little more foliage where needed, or another apple to even things out. The goal is a lush, gathered-from-the-garden look that feels abundant but not over-arranged.

Two products I swear by for long-lasting flowers are Floralife Flower Food,

available in individual packets, a 10 oz. container, or liquid for easy mixing.

and Crowning Glory Solution Floral Spray.

If you’re not familiar with Crowning Glory, it’s an antitranspirant spray that seals in moisture and dries clear. It’s safe to use on all flower types and is especially beneficial for flowers that are prone to wilting due to moisture loss, like hydrangeas. I’ve had flower arrangements that last two weeks with Crowning Glory!

Note: Remove your apples before spraying your flowers so they’re food safe and can be enjoyed after your flowers fade. I usually cover my table with a towel to catch any drips before spraying. Crowning Glory dries in approximately 30 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity.

Check your water level after the first day and every couple of days, topping off as needed. You’ll be amazed how much water your flowers will drink!

A farmhouse plaid tablecloth provides a cheery foundation for our table, blending the colors of summer and fall. . . the brighter color palette fitting for more summer weather to come.

Apple salad plates are layered on red transferware plates and Courtly Check Enamel Petal Chargers, repeating the black background of the apple plates.

They’re framed with scalloped woven chargers that add to warm texture and complement the apple box.

Copper mugs are ready for a ‘Cheers to Fall’ with Apple Cider Moscow Mules. . .

a refreshing cocktail and fall twist on a Moscow Mule that celebrates autumn with seasonal flavor!

Copper flatware adds a soft warmth and patina . . .

And apple napkin rings marry a pair of napkins. . . a farmhouse plaid with a fringed herringbone.

Table Details:

Apple Salad Plates (originally Cracker Barrel) / eBay

Red Transferware Plates, vintage / Crown Ducal Bristol

Courtly Check Enamel Petal Chargers / MacKenzie-Childs

Woven Scalloped Chargers / Pier 1

Flatware / Cambridge Indira Jessamine

Apple Napkin Rings

Farmhouse Plaid Tablecloth & Napkins / HomeGoods, several years ago

Moscow Mule Mugs / similar

Find a harvest of Fresh Picked Apple Recipes for Fall

from salads, soups, cocktails, and desserts!

 Visit my flower friends to see their beautiful fall floral inspiration:

Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse

Pam at Everyday Living

Jennifer at Celebrating Everyday Life

Thank you for your visit! Sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch