Growing & Caring For Fall Mums - How To Grow Long-Lasting Mums

When you think of fall flowers and decor, you think pumpkins, corn stalks, and of course, chrysanthemums. Mums are the quintessential fall flower. In fact, they are so popular that there are several festivals that celebrate this flower all across the United States in the autumn months. However, these plants often get a bad rap. They are normally purchased and planted late in the growing season, and even though they are marketed as perennials, they generally do not return again the next spring. If this sounds like your experience, I have some good news. Hi, this is Amy from Gardening Know How, and I'm going to share our tips for growing and caring for your fall mums. The key to successfully growing chrysanthemums is starting with the right type. Chrysanthemums are flowering, herbaceous plants, and some types are hardier than others. So, are they annuals or perennials? Well, the answer is both. Hardy garden mums thrive in USDA zones 4 to 9, but the mums you buy at the garden center in the fall are just not as hardy as they used to be. All of their energy is devoted to blooming, which makes for a showy plant with a pretty fall color, but it doesn't give the plant enough time to grow a good enough root system before winter arrives. Because of this, many mums have a short lifespan. If you are just using your mums for seasonal color, then it may not matter whether your plants are annual or perennial. However, it does seem like a shame to waste a perfectly good plant. So, how can you make sure your mums come back? For starters, plant them as early as possible. If you wait until they appear seemingly everywhere from grocery stores to garden centers to warehouse clubs, it may already be too late. Mums need at least 6 to 8 weeks to root into the ground to ensure winter survival. Even then, there may only be a 50% chance they survive, especially in colder climates. The best bet is to plant hardy chrysanthemums in the spring. While this is not the case for all garden centers, many plant shops do carry hardy mums in their perennial department. They may possibly come in smaller pots or starter packs. Planting early can ensure they get rooted before cold weather arrives. When buying mums, whether in spring or fall, it is best to pick out plants that are tightly budded, not split, and in good shape overall. Mums growing in small pots can dry out very easily, so be sure to check the soil before making your purchase. Dry plants will often wilt, giving you an indication of lack of water. If you plan to replace worn-out summer annuals with fresh fall mums in your containers, we do have some tips. One of the best things you can do for your mum is to repot it. Just gently remove it from its pot, break up any tight roots, and replant into a larger container filled with good, fertile potting soil and proper drainage. Water well and place the container in full sun for the best results. Remember, though, that your sunny summer spots may be more shaded in the fall. Keep an eye on your plant for the first few days and make sure it's getting plenty of sunlight and keep it well watered. If planting your mums in the ground, choose a sunny, well-drained spot in the landscape. They will grow in partial shade, but they tend to get leggy while reaching for sunlight. When planting your mums, also consider planting them in a somewhat sheltered location, where they will not be exposed to winter winds that can decrease their chances of winter survival. Another factor in winter survival is saturated soil. Sometimes it isn't the cold that kills mums, but rather soil that remains wet and saturated over the winter. This is why choosing a spot with very well-drained soil is crucial. To begin, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Next, amend the native soil with some sort of compost at a ratio of 1 to 1. Add a starter fertilizer to the backfill to help with root production if planting in spring or summer. Do not fertilize late in the season. Break up the roots slightly if root-bound. Score the roots or pull them apart the best you can. Plant the mums slightly above soil level and backfill around the root ball. As far as feeding your plants throughout the growing season, they will benefit from a dose of fertilizer in the spring and early summer. Just one or two applications per season is enough to give them the boost they need to grow, bud, and bloom. After following these growing suggestions, you'll want to practice the most important technique of how to care for mums, pinching. Many mums grow a bit wild, possibly overgrowing in their space or splitting before the fall season arrives. To prevent this, you need to pinch off the new growth as it develops. Every few weeks after the plant reaches about 6 inches tall, you will want to remove about half of the new growth at the top of each shoot. Repeat this step throughout spring and summer until the middle of July or into August if you want to delay bloom a bit longer. This will help to promote a full and bushy plant that blooms later in the growing season. You don't necessarily need to use your fingers to pinch. Shears, scissors, or pruners will also do. If you don't have the energy or desire to pinch the new growth, no worries, they will still bloom, but may develop more of a carefree, floppy appearance. As discussed earlier, oftentimes garden mums, even if they are considered perennial, have a tough time surviving the winter. Whether you plant them in spring or take your chances in the fall, even the hardiest chrysanthemum will need a little TLC to survive winter's harsh weather. The first step is to not cut back any foliage in the fall. It is best to leave the dead foliage to help trap leaves and mulch to protect the plant's crown over the winter months. Wait until new growth has begun at the base of the plant the next spring to cut back any remaining dead foliage from the prior season. The next step is to properly insulate the plant. Apply a heavy layer of mulch after several hard frosts or a hard freeze. Any kind of mulch will do, including hardwood or pine, straw, evergreen branches, or even leaves that have fallen from trees. The mulch layer will also help protect the plants during freeze and thaw cycles. Pull the mulch away once the weather warms in the spring. With these few steps, you can provide the proper winter care for mums that increases the chances of making it through the cold weather and reward you with lovely blooms again the next year. Mums can add color to landscapes or containers all on their own, but they also pair nicely with other fall bloomers and foliage accents. Try any of these companion plants for a fall display that is anything but ordinary. Ornamental grasses can add whimsy, movement, and texture along with your colorful mums. Smaller sized grasses are perfect for patio pots. Pansies are cool season annuals that will continue to bloom into winter, even after multiple frosts and freezes. Add a spicy flair with ornamental peppers in a wide range of fun, bright colors that include red, orange, yellow, and purple. Asters are also a great pairing with fall mums. They bloom late, prefer the same growing conditions, adding a perfect late season plant to attract pollinators to your garden. While not edible, ornamental cabbage and kale offers foliage contrast with its ruffled leaves and crisp blue-green colors. They perform best in cooler weather, with color actually intensifying as the season progresses. For additional contrast, perennial coral bells offer a wide range of color and variation. They can add that perfect amount of fall color and texture to add to the landscape or in containers. Celosia can help provide a long-lasting, upright accent to patio pots, with fluffy-looking flowers that also tolerate cooler temperatures. And of course, pumpkins and gourds can be added to round out your fall display. Just stack them alongside the mums or atop a straw bale, and be sure to tuck mini pumpkins and gourds into the front of the planters to fill up space. So now you have the know-how to properly plant, pinch, and provide protection for your prized mums. For more information on mums and their companions, please visit us at GardeningKnowHow.com. And if you enjoyed the content in this video, click the subscribe button for more content from us. Thanks for watching and happy gardening!