Fall garden mums: The garden's last hurrah
- Michelle Wood: SWCD
- October 18, 2009
- 719
We’ve all heard the saying fall is for planting.
Fall mums, sometimes called Garden mums or Pot mums, are a very popular plant for late season color. Fall mums were once known as chrysanthemums but taxonomists have recently changed their botanical name to Dendranthema x grandiflora. Fall mums are available in a wide selection of colors, flower types... shapes and sizes. Fall mums are a low maintenance, easy to grow plant that can be kept in containers or grown in beds.
Carolyn G. writes, “I have planted many mums throughout the years at various locations around our home. However, I have only been able to save a few of them over the years. What is the best time to plant them, and what am I doing wrong?”
Carol, I am sorry that my advice is, you are doing nothing wrong. While for many years in the past, when fall mums were still chrysanthemums and perennials, you would have had lush beautiful mums every fall for years to come. But unfortunately, due to growers and breeders overproducing, creating thousands of colors, styles, and varieties, we breed the hardiness right out. Today the fall mums you purchase and see sold everywhere are grown to be annuals. To help you gain a better understanding, first I will give you the name of the world renown mum breeder, if you question my answers. Believe me, I take no offense. Many have questioned me when I state “there is no such thing as hardy mums anymore.” Yoder Brothers is the largest known breeder of garden and pot mums. Their corporate offices are located in Ohio. Second, I will provide you with a short rundown of what to do to help create a better chance of keeping your garden mums for more than one season.
Most fall mums are purchased and planted from late August into September. Fall mums prefer to be planted in an area that receives full sun. For ultimate growth, plant your new fall mums in fertile, well-drained soil. Poorly drained soil is the leading cause of winter mortality. Fall mums in above ground containers need to be planted in a flower bed before the first hard frost. Fall mums should never be allowed to wilt... especially newly transplanted plants. Check your fall mums every couple of days for watering until you become familiar with their needs, particularly during dry spells. Be sure to thoroughly water-in your new transplants.
Newly planted fall mums will not require any fertilizer this season. During the next growing season, begin feeding your fall mums as new growth emerges, with the plant food of your choice. Feed your plants monthly until August.
Mulching your fall mums to a depth of 3 to 4 inches after the soil has frozen will help to ensure their return the following spring. The purpose of mulching your fall mums is to keep the soil frozen.
Once your fall mums start re-growing... remove the old stems if you haven’t done so previously. This is the time to start feeding your fall mums.
To encourage branching and compact bushy growth, it’s important to pinch your fall mums in early spring. Once your plants have reached 4 to 6 inches, remove about 1 to 2 inches of new growth on every shoot. After the plants have grown 3 to 5 inch shoots from the first pinching... it’s time to pinch again. Stop pinching your plants around mid July. After the final pinching, stake your mums, or you will be disappointed when they split right down the middle.
Until next week, this is Ruth the Grower saying, “That’s it, Carol. If you can keep them growing, they’ll provide you with constant color until the first hard freeze.” Keep writing to ruth thegrower@aol.com.