How to Grow Mums

Mums are really simple to grow and they reward with a lot of color in the fall of the year.

Mums can either be started in the spring or in the fall.  Whatever the season you choose, they are grown the same once the spring season arrives.

First, make sure that the variety you choose is a perennial, or hardy type of mum.  The type that is sold by florists, will not survive - planted outside.  The types usually sold by garden centers are perennials, and will survive outside.  But keep in mind, mums are considered tender perennials.  This means that they will not always survive the winter weather.  But given a little protection, they will do rather well.

Let's assume that you are planting mums in the fall of the year.  Take the plants out of the pot and plant in the ground, the same depth as they are in the pots.  Water well as you are planting, then, if there is no rainfall, water every day until the roots get set in about a week.  Once the roots start to grow and expand outward into the existing soil, once a week watering is enough in the fall.  Enjoy the beautiful show of color for the next few weeks.

After the flowers begin to fade, let the plant continue to grow and get its feet firmly planted in the soil.  Once a killing frost finally kills the top growth, you can then break off the dead stems and place them over the plant for protection for the winter.  Do not attempt to cover the plant base with a lot of mulch and leaves.  It is not necessary.

When spring finally arrives, you should see the plants start to emerge from the ground.  Remove any debris and dead plant material from the base of the plant and lightly fertilize, with something like 10-10-10.  The plants will start to grow taller as spring progresses.  When they reach a height of about 5-6 inches, pinch them back to about half the size.  Continue to pinch the mums about every 2 weeks through the summer.  This does not have to be a fancy pinch, but rather, it can be with a hedge shear or just some scissors.  Keep pinching until about July 20th.  If you do not pinch your mums, they they will bloom in the spring, and this is not what we are trying to do, but rather we want to have a beautiful fall display.

Once you quit pinching, then buds will be set on your mums, and then they will start to bloom in your landscape in September.  And nothing says 'fall' quite like blooming mums...Enjoy!