Now’s the Time to Plant Hardy Mums

 

For late season color 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. Mums make great container plants sitting on the front porch, welcoming the fall season.  

Hardy chrysanthemums are also a colorful addition to your perennial beds and with a little care, will come back season after season. 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, a locally-produced product that will increase soil fertility and drainage. Mums will thrive in well-draining soil, something our  clay soils don’t do. Plan to mix in equal amounts of amendments to the existing soil, some ten inches to twelve inches deep. The planting hole should be twice as wide as the container and half again as deep. 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. Plan to water your newly planted mums every four to five weeks through the winter season. Once the ground is cold, you can add a layer of mulch to help preserve moisture and keep the garden soil stable. Come spring, prune off the dead stems and gradually remove the mulch. Planted in the garden now, hardy mums will offer seasonal color as well as pollinator support for many seasons to come.  

 

 

The Best Bulbs for Early Spring Color

 
You’ll see them in early spring, often blooming through the snow. Brightly colored crocus flowers are a sure sign that spring is on its way. Crocus blooms are soon followed in succession by other small bulbs (called minor bulbs) including grape hyacinths and Scilla, then the major bulbs including daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.  

These are hardy bulbs, meaning they will survive our winters and bloom season after season, with just a little care. As a rule, plant bulbs two to three times their height. A two-inch bulb should be buried five to six inches deep. It is possible to influence the bloom time by varying the depth you plant each bulb. Shallow planted bulbs will bloom earlier; deeper bulbs will bloom later in the season. The risk with planting too shallow is the bulb may not survive the winter. Another trick to control bloom time is to add two or three inches of mulch to the bed. This will keep the ground cold and slow bloom time. All bulbs will do best when planted in well-amended soil, in a sunny spot in the garden. Once planted, bulbs will root out, and then stay dormant until the soil warms up in spring. Adding Bone Meal or Dutch Bulb Food at planting time will improve rooting and bulb growth. 

Now’s a good time to purchase bulbs, while there’s a good selection. Wait until after October 1 to plant your bulbs. Crocus “bulbs” are technically corms. They are solid inside like a potato and they have a papery outer covering which is called a tunic. One side is flatter than the other. The flat side goes down, when you plant them. 

Muscari, known as grape hyacinths, are hardy spring bloomers that produce blue or purple flowers that look like bunches of grapes, hence the common name. They will do well in sun or semi-shade and spread naturally. Scilla Siberica  and Scilla Siberica Alba are also good choices for adding early spring color to your garden. . 

For best effect, minor bulbs should be planted in clusters, not lined out in rows.  Check on your bulbs through the winter. They should be watered every four to five weeks, along with the rest of the trees and shrubs in your landscape.