Mums: the classic fall flower
Chrysanthemums are ubiquitous in the capitulation gardenscape . Few plant give such a colorful show during fall in cold - winter climates . you’re able to find garden mum in any color except for true blue . These plants also follow in several different blossom forms . you could see a few of them in the slideshow below .
Mums can be treated as an annual or perennial
Many tribe treat mommy as annuals , corrupt whatever vividness light upon their fancy in the fall and toss the plant on the compost pile when winter issue forth . But the verity is , many mums are cold - hardy even intoUSDA geographical zone 4 . You just have to know how to keep them live .
Planting mums in fall does n’t give them enough sentence to get established before winter comes . Check out our mum growing tips below that will aid your mums get along back every year .
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How to grow your best mums
While hardy perennial mums are ordinarily quite durable , with a bit of special care you ’ll reap huge reward . Here are tips to cut down the hazard that you ’ll have to found new mums every yr .
1. Plant mums in spring
leaping is the fourth dimension to get florists' chrysanthemum in the soil . That give them lots of metre to send out a strong root system of rules that will keep them from being retch out of the soil over the winter . Buy young scratch in former spring . If they have flowers , snip them off so the mum puts its vigour into grow more roots and branches .
2. Divide frequently
For the most flowers , dividemums every spring . pitch out the weak and woody center and readjust only healthy young sprouts from the edge of the lump .
3. Choose a sunny spot
Always plant hardy mums in full sunlight and well - enfeeble soil . Avoid emplacement that stick around loaded or where water collects , peculiarly in wintertime . With too much moisture , the poll rots and the plant will give-up the ghost .
Perennial PlanterPerennial ShovelSoil Knife
4. Fertilize regularly
Mums are heavy feeders . Start with agranulated 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizeras shortly as you see raw growing . Give them another VD in early August , or when you discern the buds form . Or use a dull - button fertilizer in saltation . But if you irrigate or it ’s been a rainy season , give your mum a small extra 10 - 10 - 10 as the bud form . Never flow after mid - August or the plant will adjudicate to keep growing rather than meander down to prepare for dormancy .
5. Prepare for winter
mama left standing will go cold-blooded winter better than ace cut to the earth . And it ’s a good idea to spread 2 to 4 in . of straw or other loose mulch over the ascendant to keep them equally moth-eaten and protect .
6. Be patient
Wait until leap to reveal the crown and hack the old stem down . Late cold cinch can pop tender raw growth .
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How to pinch mums
So you institute in bound and your mums come back every year . Why do they stretch out into lanky plants by decline and not develop in those tight cushions covered in buds that you ’re used to seeing at the garden marrow ? Pinching can help .
Pinching mums for more flowers
Pinching is the way to get the most blossom , but if you need a taller , more born - looking mum , do it just once . When the works is 4 to 6 in . marvelous , pinch out the growing baksheesh with your fingerbreadth or practice a smallprunersto crop out the tip . You ’ll get four or more side shoots that will each produce a cluster of flowers .
Pinching mums for a mounded look
reckon for unforesightful plants with more florescence branch ? You ’ll need to start pinching in spring and repeat the procedure every metre new development stretches to 4 to 6 in . long . quit purloin in mid - July so your mum will have time to mark blossom buds .
Growing mums in containers
To get the most bloom time , choose potted mums at the nursery whose buds are just start to show colour like you see above . And if you ’re moving theminto containers , do n’t worry about using a high - qualitypotting mixor even fertilise — they ’re ready to go . in reality , no matter how you ’re going to enjoy them , you’re able to simply slip one’s mind the mamma , potbelly and all , into place and you ’re set for the season .
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Try these mum varieties in your garden
Matchsticks garden mum ( Chrysanthemumhybrid )
TypePerennialBloomsSpoon - shape favorable - yellow flower petal with fiery red-faced baksheesh from late summer to fallLightFull sun Size 12 to 24 in . marvelous and wideHardinessCold stout in USDA zones 5 to 9
Dazzling Stacy ™ garden mommy ( Chrysanthemumxmorifolium )
TypePerennialBloomsDaisylike blooms have yellowed inwardness with light orangish tips from tardy summer to fallLightFull sunSize12 to 18 in . tall , 15 to 18 in . wideHardinessCold dauntless in USDA zone 5 to 9
Nutty Fiona ™ Bronze garden mum ( Chrysanthemumxgrandiflorum )
TypePerennialBloomsBronzy orange bloom in fallLightFull sunSize18 to 24 in . tall and wideHardinessCold hardy in USDA zone 5 to 9
‘ Sheffield ’ garden mum ( Chrysanthemumhybrid )
TypePerennialBloomsPale pink flowers from late summer to frostLightFull sun to part shadeSize24 to 36 in . tall , 18 to 24 in . wideHardinessCold hardy USDA zones 5 to 9
‘ Five Alarm ruby ’ garden mama ( Chrysanthemumxmorifolium )
TypePerennialBloomsDark red bloom tardy summer through fallLightFull sunSize14 to 24 in . tall , 20 to 24 in . wideHardinessCold intrepid in USDA zones 5 to 9
