How to Plant and Grow Fall Mums

Fall Mums For Sale

Nurseries, home improvement stores and even you local grocery store begin selling fall mums in late August. These daisy like flowers range in color from yellow, white, and red to striking maroon and shades of orange. Sold in full bloom, mums can be planted in the fall garden to fill in empty spots or grown in the container providing weeks of color to brighten your yard.

Instructions

1. Select mums that match your hardiness zone. Mums are available in both tender and hardy perennials. Check the plant identification tag to determine if they are suited for your area. Choosing several varieties in varying colors creates a mass of color in your fall garden and add depth and interest.

2. Prepare a bed for your fall mums in an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight. Amend with compost, as fall mums require rich friable soil that drains well.

3. Gently remove the mums from the pot. If roots are tightly coiled at the bottom of the pot, trim away old roots to allow new roots to form. Gently loosen the root ball and plant to the original depth in new soil. Pack soil down firmly around the plant to remove air pockets.

4. Water thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist. Fertilizer is not needed at this point as the grower has already forced the plant to bloom and has undoubtedly provided adequate fertilizer for the season. If you choose to apply fertilizer, use at 1/4 strength on a weekly basis.

5. Mulch with 2 to 3 inches of hay or straw once the first hard frost has killed off foliage. Remove old blooms, but leave the main stalk in place until spring, as it will help to protect the plant during the winter. Remove mulch in spring after the last hard frost to allow young shoots to emerge. Remove old stems once new growth reaches 2 inches.

6. Pinch back new growth to half once you see the first set of buds. Pinching or pruning mums encourages a compact plant with abundant blooms. Repeat every two to four weeks until the beginning of July. Although it may be tempting to allow mums to grow freely without pruning or pinching, failure to pinch back new growth results in a tall spindly plant with fewer and smaller blooms.

7. Fertilize with water-soluble fertilizer every 10 to 14 days throughout the summer. A boost of high phosphorus fertilizer just prior to blooming encourages larger and brighter blooms.

Tips & Warnings

• Select compact mum plants with healthy green foliage to brighten your fall garden.

• Place mums on the front steps to welcome your guests.

• Always check the hardiness zone on the label.