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The best time to plant mums is in the spring because this gives the roots time to establish themselves. Mums can be added to gardens later on in the year, but the flowers will become more established if given adequate time to grow before the fall. The early to mid-spring is the best time to plant mums.
Can I plant potted mums in the ground?
Technically, however, they can be planted in your garden any time before the first frost of fall. This means you can try removing the mums from your pot and planting them in the ground in the fall. Plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot and water them thoroughly after planting.
Will mums come back every year?
They will grow back and your plant won’t look dead in the middle.” Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year.
When should I put my mums in the ground?
They’re best planted in the spring once the ground is free of frost, giving them time over the summer to establish their roots in the soil before they become knockout bloomers in the fall. If you plant hardy mums in the fall, they likely won’t survive the winter.
Do mums do better in pots or in the ground?
—your best bet is to overwinter them in their containers in a protected space (above freezing, never letting the soil dry out). Then, you can plant them in spring, providing lots of time to establish strong roots before their first winter in the ground.
Can mums survive frost?
Most garden mums should be able to endure a light fall frost. Cover the plants at night when freeze warnings are in effect. However, if you are in a cold climate, leaving the dead foliage on the plants has been found to help the plant survive colder temperatures better than pruned plants.
Can garden mums survive winter?
Although garden mums are often called hardy mums, they may not survive the winter if drainage is poor or if you live in an extremely cold climate. If your mums survive the winter, you’ll see new growth developing around the base of the plant in early spring.
Can I keep mums in pots over the winter?
Overwinter your mums in pots. If you’re not ready to give up your beautiful fall blooms, you can overwinter mums in pots as long as they’re hardy mums. Fall-blooming mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, and they’re often grown in pots as annuals in other zones.
How long can mums stay outside?
Avoid plants whose flowers have already begun to fade. Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.
Do mums like sun or shade?
Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.
Do mums come back every year if planted in the ground?
Because people often think that mums (formally called Chrysanthemums) are at best a finicky perennial, many gardeners treat them as annuals, but this doesn’t have to be the case. With just a little winter care for mums, these fall beauties can come back year after year.
Can mums be replanted?
Mums (Chrysanthemum spp.) Transplant any potted mums in spring after frost danger has passed or in fall six weeks before the first expected freeze. These colorful fall flowers bloom most profusely when they receive all-day sunlight in a well-drained and moderately fertile bed.
Are fall mums annuals or perennials?
Garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are perennial mums. Cut-flower chrysanthemums, like spider mums or football mums, are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and these types are becoming easier to find for sale online.
How do I save my potted mums for next year?
Keep mums indoors until one week before the last expected spring frost. At that time, take the pot outdoors to its summer location for two or three hours, then bring it back indoors to its winter location. Each day, bring the pot outdoors and leave it there for an hour or so longer each time.
Should I water mums everyday?
Mums don’t like to get dry between waterings, so make sure you water them at least every other day and especially if they start looking wilted. Just like potted mums, water them at the soil level instead of on top of the blooms. Watering the foliage can cause disease.
What temperature is too cold for mums?
Mums are cold hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive hot temperatures from 90 to 100 F, but they’ll need plenty of water and a little shade.
Where Should mums be planted?
Mums should be planted in partial to full sun. If you’re trying to decide between the two light exposures, always choose full sun for mums. This helps the plant maintain its energy during the blooming cycle as well as produce new buds, which is important if you want to see color up until the first hard frost.
What do I do with my mums after they fall?
Shortly after Fall or in late winter, when the mum has finished blooming, ensure you cut the plant’s stem to 6 to 8 inches above ground level. However, if you find the dead stems of winter valuable to wildlife or of interest, you may choose to leave the stems intact until the spring growth develops.
