Now’s the Time to Plant Hardy Mums

  

 

For color this time of year, it's hard to beat mums. Also called garden mums or hardy chrysanthemums, these fall favorites come in a rainbow of colors, including red, white, yellow and lavender, as well as Mumbo combinations of colors in a single pot. Hardy mums are a great choice for decorating porches and patios this time of year, but their versatility extends into the perennial bed as well.   

Start by selecting a spot in the garden that receives a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. Mums planted in less than full sun will grow tall and scraggly, with reduced flower size. Next, amend the planting site with organic material, such as Earth Essentials Sheep. Peat and Compost. The planting hole should be twice as wide as the container and half again as deep. Once the site is ready, place your garden mum in the planting hole, making sure the crown of the plant is at the same level it was in the container. Fill in around the plant with amended soil. Next, mix up a solution of Root Stimulator and water the mum thoroughly. Root Stimulator will help the mum plant establish a strong root system going into winter. Mums will generally lose their top growth after a hard frost and begin to go dormant for the winter. When this happens, cut the top growth back to about six inches. Wait until the ground is cold - usually around Thanksgiving before adding a five-to-six-inch layer of mulch.  Mulch will help retain moisture and keep the ground stable. Soil Pep is a good choice for mulch.  

 Through the course of the winter, water your plants every five to six weeks. The following spring, after the threat of frost has passed, begin to remove the mulch slowly. You can also remove any dead vegetation that may remain. In some cases, you’ll find the mums have already begun to leaf out. At this point, feed your mums with a general fertilizer such as ferti•lome’s Gardeners Special, every two weeks.  

 

Left alone, garden mums will begin to bloom around mid-season. If you want them to bloom in the fall, it’s important to prune them on a regular basis, by cutting or pinching off the top of each stem. This will keep the plant more compact and delay blooming until fall.  The rule of thumb is to not prune mums after the Fourth of July, so there’s time for flower buds to form.  

Planted in the garden now, hardy mums will offer beautiful color as well as pollinator support for many seasons to come.