Fall Is Here- Time To Plant Those Mums

I love fall.  Crisp air, turning leaves, football, holiday get togethers and mums blooming everywhere!  I can't imagine fall without chrysanthemums.  So many colors and sizes, in pots on the porch and filling flower beds. 

Potted mums  make colorful decorations in the late summer and throughout the fall. With proper care, potted mum plants can last through the winter or be winterized in a garden for regrowth the next year.  Whether indoor or out, potted mums need water, sun and care to look their best.

Money saving tip:  Once you have your mums established in your yard they have to be separated every few years.  After separating, plant the removed mums into pots or another spot in your yard.  You can even take mum cuttings and propagate your plants until you have as many new plants as you need without spending any money!

Here's a few tips to keep your mums healthy and looking great:

1. Keep mums in natural light or in the direct sun, whether indoors or out. Mum plants need plenty of sun for proper growth. Keep them away from night lighting, as this disturbs their flowering cycle.
2. Deadhead spent blooms. After flowers begin to wilt and die, pluck them from the plant at the base of the flower. Leave on any buds, blooming flowers and leaves.
3. Allow the mum plants to go dormant over the winter. Keep them outside once the blooms die, and mound the pots with dried leaves or garden refuse to prevent premature freezing.
4. Prune the mum plants in the late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Cut back stems to about 12 to 18 inches or shorter for bushier plants.
5. Water mum plants in the spring as new growth begins and color returns to the plants. Keep them well watered throughout the spring, fertilizing once a week for the first couple months and then ceasing fertilization once blooms are present.
6. Water the mums regularly. Soak the mums until water runs out through the holes in the pot            bottom.  After the initial soaking, water daily or until soil is moist. Don't allow the potted soil to dry out, as this will harm the plant.