Fall Mums

Last Updated on Friday, 9 September 2011 08:12 Written by Phillip Friday, 9 September 2011 08:12

The Fall mums arrived this week. Mums are a staple for fall color and decoration. The word Mum is short for Chrysanthemum…a flowering plant that usually blooms in the Fall. With lots of varieties of colors and sizes, mums are a perfect fit for any home owner or gardener. With this large variety comes a large variety of sizes and growing needs. While all mums are perennial(meaning they will come back year after year), many of the varieties that are sold by the mass merchants are not hardy for winters colder than zone 5.  I treat these mums as annuals, using them as instant color in a container by themselves or in combinations with other Fall plants.

In recent years there have been some new releases of mums that were specifically bred for the Northern gardener. A particular favorite of mine is the Minnesota Mammoth mum. These mums can withstand temps as low as -30 degrees, and still come back year after year. They get the name Mammoth from there large size. This is an all around easy plant to grow, with its vigor and no fuss growth habit. Don’t think of these as your ordinary garden mums, that you find at the box stores. Their natural growth habit is large, with a natural dome shape. They make great specimen plants or as a showy hedge.

Trying to establish mums in your gardens can be easily accomplished by following a few easy steps. Most people try to plant their mums late in the year when they are in full bloom. At this time of the year the plants are putting all of their energy into blooming and not into rooting. This is one of the main reasons I am always hearing of customers lack of success in growing mums.  So choose the right mum, give it minimal care and you can enjoy Fall beauty for years to come.