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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 you 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.
When should you plant potted 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 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.
What is the best time to plant mums?
When should I plant my mums? The best time to plant your mums is August or early September. If you can get your mums in the ground before they start blooming you will double the bloom time. The plant will get a more robust root system which helps elongate the bloom time.
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 the winter in pots?
Mums can survive light frosts and cold fairly easy, but a hard freeze can kill roots in pots permanently. Once potted mums have endured a hard freeze, their chances for surviving winter are slim. Cut mums back to within a few inches of the soil line before bringing indoors.
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.
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.
Do mums come back in the spring?
But if you’ve ever planted mums in hopes they’d return next year and were disappointed not to see them pop up again in the spring, here’s why: Mums are perennials, but only if you get them in the ground early in the growing season, (If you’re not sure about the differences between annuals versus perennials, read more Aug 6, 2021.
Do you cut back mums in the spring?
As mums begin to grow through the spring and into summer, they’re going to start producing buds. To get the most out of a mum, it’s best to prune those buds, pinching them back until the time comes to let the plants develop new leaves, branches, and flowers. That way they’ll look gorgeous next fall.
Is it too early to plant mums?
If you’re using a mum as a perennial, plant in early spring, or in the fall at least six weeks before the first killing frost. If you’re using chrysanthemums for a pop of fall color to boost your late season garden, plant them when they’re blooming in later summer or early fall and treat them as annuals.
How late in the year can you plant mums?
Most gardeners plant mums too late in the fall for the plants to survive over winter. Some of the mums may come back the next year if they are mulched. The shallow-rooted mums that are planted late in fall while in full bud or flower just do not have enough time to establish before winter sets in.
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.
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.
