Chrysanthemum, or most commonly called mums, are a popular fall decoration. Millions are sold every autumn. As the flowers of summer fade, mums are a great way to add color to your gardens and patios.
These flowers originated in China centuries ago and now there are over 5,000 varieties and are available in every color except blue. There are two kinds of mums often sold: florist mums and hardy or garden mums. Florist mums are grown in a greenhouse and used only as indoor plants and most likely won’t survive if planted outdoors.
Hardy or garden mums can be planted outside and can usually survive the winter in zones 5-9. However, after years of cross breeding and development of new varieties, mums are not as hardy as they used to be. And there is a lot of information out there (and some differences in that information) on how best to keep your mum looking great throughout the fall and helping them make it through the winter. Here are a few of the most common tips we found.
When purchasing a mum, look for one with few blossoms and more buds as it will last longer and easier on the plant when repotting or planting in the garden. When transplanting, break up the root ball a bit. Some suggest planting mums in the ground in spring to help them get established before winter. However, if planted early enough in the fall, mums have a good chance of coming back in spring.
Mums love the sun and need around six hours of sun each day. They also need well drained soil. Water them every other day or when the soil is dry. Pinch off spent blossoms.
After the first couple of frosts, apply mulch such as straw. Don’t remove dead growth at this time. It will help insulate the mum through the winter.
In spring, remove the mulch and trim back the dead growth. If the mum survived the winter there will be growth at the base of the plant. Pinch them back in the spring. When the plant is about six inches, pinch back 2-3 inches off every branch. Repeat when it grows another six inches. Stop pinching by mid summer.
If you have any questions, ask any garden center about caring for your mums.
Happy fall, y’all! Enjoy!
