How to Make a Gardening Statement with Hardy Colorful Mums

Depending on the region of the country where you live, hardy colorful mums can be an ideal choice for a garden or within a landscaping scheme. If you live in the Midwest, these gorgeous, unpretentious-looking plants can be readily enjoyed (during the mid part of Summer and into Indian Summer or early Fall, just prior to the first frost or freeze). The plants, if planted properly, can grow to a sizable, healthy rate.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plenty of colorful orange, yellow, bronze colored mums
• Shovel
• Iron rake
• Wheel barrel
• Bone-meal
• Gloves
• Watering can

Planting and Maintaining Hardy Mums

1. Read the directions that come with the individual plants. If no directions are provided then ask the sales person at your local greenhouse or gardening center as to planting instructions. You may also attain the information on-line; however, more than likely instructions will be provided.

2. Dig a hole for each plant just deep enough so that when you set the plant into the ground you won't be covering up the leaves or the flora. Allow a hole sizable enough in order that the plant may peak out (to use something of a metaphor), if you will, just covering the root portion housed inside the potting soil packed around the plant container. (If the size is wide enough, two or three plants may share the same location or play it safe and dig a hole for each plant, spacing at appropriate intervals two to three inches apart, would be my estimate. Whatever you do, do not dig one huge hole and place all the plants in that location.

3. Use a full size regular shovel as the ground where you may be digging could be especially hard and you'll want to get a good 'edge' on it if you are to properly pull it up; unless the dirt where you are planting is already loose, you will gain no progress in using a spade (or hand-held gardening shovel) especially if the sod is still in place.

4. Once you've dug your hole, break up the portion you just unearthed to make it easier to pack around your plant.

5. Prior to placing the plant in the ground, throw a couple of small shovels of bone meal or an amount specified on the bone meal package into the hole you have just dug. Bone meal may be purchased at the local gardening center. Swish it about in the dirt. Then take your watering can and place a little water in the hole where you are about to place your plant. Do not over do it. Just water enough to properly moisten the dirt. Place the plant in the hole with the bone meal and water, securing the broken sod around the plant.

6. Once the plant is secured, add a little water to the top of the plant. Mums are very hearty and are resilient as far as variance in temperatures. They do not readily die out from noon day heat so they are a very economical plant in which to place around your house. They are particularly attractive around older-style homes.

Tips & Warnings

• Dig all your holes first, spacing at appropriate intervals. The holes do not need to be perfect, just far enough down to easily secure the plant.
• Don't forget the bone meal (regardless of what your greenhouse representative recommends). Your plants, if planted correctly, should grow lush and lovely using this method.
• Remember to garner precise planting instructions as to spacing and so forth from your garden center.