How to Plant Mums
Mums are perennial plants, meaning they don’t need to be replanted every year and, with proper care, will grace your garden with their blooms year after year if you know how to plant them properly. They can be grown in a container to decorate a room indoors or planted in the ground to add a splash of color to your garden.
Where to Plant
If you do decide to plant your mums in the ground, choose a spot with good drainage as mums don’t like to be too wet. Make sure the area gets about six hours of sun a day. Mums are considered “short-day” plants, meaning they flower during the time of year when the days are shorter, so don’t confuse them by planting them too close to street or porch lights. Dig a hole just deep enough so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil line. Mums have shallow roots and don’t like to be competing for space, so make sure to give them each enough room to stretch their legs.
Watering
Keep your mums well watered for the first few weeks after transplating. Once they’ve settled into their new homes they shouldn’t need as much water as they did in a container. Give them about one inch of water a week, more if the leaves start to droop or turn brown.
First Frost
After the first frost, your mums’ leaves will turn black and the stems will dry out. If you live in a colder climate, you may want to add a few inches of mulch to keep them healthy through the winter. Otherwise, leave the dead branches; they will provide sufficient protection for the plants through the colder months. Remove these dead branches or any mulch you’ve laid down in the spring to allow new shoots to pop up.
Mums are striking and easy plants to grow, and with the proper care, they can add a bit of cheer to your garden for years to come!
