Caring For Your Fall Mums
When I think of fall flowers, one of the most prominent ones that comes to mind is hardy mums. The gorgeous autumnal tones of the blooms and strength of the plant work well for the season. I want to help all of you keep your mums thriving and long-lasting, so you can have a beautiful container or garden through the whole season (and maybe even longer)!
Photo by Madison Love
Mums are generally low maintenance due to their ability to withstand drought, cold, and pests. If you have a brown thumb or do not have the time to care for more labor-intensive plants, then mums are a great option to add a pop of color to your porch. There are so many color varieties for whatever style you choose!
When picking out your mum, look for one that hasn’t fully bloomed yet. It might be tempting to grab for the plant with the prettiest full blooms, but grabbing a budded one will give you more time to enjoy it. Trust me!
When watering your mums, do not water on top! Be sure to water underneath and do not get the blooms wet — this saves your mums from getting botrytis. Keep the soil most to the touch!
Photo by Madison Love
If you choose to transplant your mums, be sure to plant them before the first frost of the season. Choose a place with well-drained soil, and place your mum in a spot that will receive around six hours of daily sunlight. After planting, be sure to water often and give mums a good soaking. Once they are well-established, you can water them once a week or when the bottom leaves begin to wilt. It is important to not fertilize your mums in the fall so that the blooms are not affected!
Now: After you have enjoyed your blooms during fall, the first frost has hit, and your plant has wilted and died—what next? Do not prune back your mum! The dead foliage will help to keep it alive for next spring. Once the first frost has hit, mulch over the foliage, and wait until spring. If your mum is in a container, move it to a protected spot to survive the cold.
In the spring, once the stems regrow, cut them back to encourage growth. Throughout the spring and summer, it is important to pinch back the buds so that the mum will bloom again in the fall. If not, you will have an early blooming plant and it will be dead for fall!
I hope to see all your hardy mums surviving year-round!
Happy Gardening!