I was out at several area garden stores this last weekend, and the mums are pretty incredible this year. Growers have done an outstanding job, and we are just hitting peak color season for the mum display.
Years ago, people really struggled with keeping these mums growing from year to year. When I was in the garden center business, we ended up selling them as annuals because they just weren’t reliable when it came to overwinter and hardiness.
Today’s mums seem to be a little more reliable when it comes to overwintering. However, there are still a few things you can do to help ensure that they come back next spring.
First of all, keep them watered throughout the entire fall season, even after they finish blooming. This holds true whether they are in the ground, in a container or in their original container.
If you let these dry out, the roots won’t have a chance to establish. I have seen people let them die completely after they finish blooming and expect them to overwinter.
Once they finish blooming, you can cut the blooms off and keep the foliage and roots moist until the ground freezes.
If you have them in a container, once they finish their usefulness, plant them in the ground. They don’t usually overwinter in containers. If you plant them, continue to water as needed.
Another very critical factor to success in overwintering is mulching them after we have a few hard freezes. This helps to protect the root system and prevents heaving due to freezing and thawing of the soil. When heaving occurs, the roots dry out and won’t survive.
Don’t cut them back prior to mulching; simply apply mulch around the base of the plant, covering the entire plant with at least 6 inches of mulch.
In early April, before new growth begins, remove the mulch and cut the dead foliage back to the ground. Hopefully you will see new shoots emerge.
Don’t forget that there are some other cool plants to be used in the fall besides mums. Pansies will last until a hard freeze and many times come back in the early spring with a blast of color.
Ornamental cabbage and kale, either massed in a large planting or potted in containers also last until a heavy freeze, sometimes up until the holidays.
Asters are also readily available and are extremely hardy and very easy to maintain. They come in a variety of colors and look good until a freeze, as well.
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