Can I plant mums in the ground?

Soil: While mums thrive in just about any soil type, they do benefit from generous helpings of homemade compost. Dig in a spadeful at planting time and topdress with more. Soil must be well drained, however, or the plants will rot. Sunshine: Mums planted in full sun bloom more profusely than those in partial shade.

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.

Can store bought mums be planted in the ground?

They also like indirect sunlight. Ensure these two things are present wherever you use the mum for fall décor. You may choose to leave your store-bought mum in a container while it's decorating a certain area. However, you might choose to go ahead and plant it in the ground.

What do you do with potted mums after fall?

After they finish flowering, garden mums should be cut back far enough to remove all of the faded flowers (about one-quarter their height). If the winter stays very mild, some mums will produce a few more flowers. In late January or early February, garden mums should be cut back to about three inches from the ground.

Do potted mums come back?

You will have some buds on them by then, but don't worry. They will grow back and your plant won't look dead in the middle." Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. These people toss the mums in the trash once the blooms have faded.

PETITTI How to Plant And Care For Fall Mums So They’ll Grow Back

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. To keep the plant attractive and healthy, snip off any dead blossoms as soon as they wilt.

How do you keep potted mums alive?

To prolong the blooms, keep the plant in bright indirect light, rather than full sun. Water Mums from Bottom: Protect your mums from rain, and water them carefully without splashing the foliage or blooms. This will help keep the blooms from spotting and browning.

Can you replant mums for next year?

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. Although your potted mums may look dead, they might just be dormant.

Can you bring potted mums inside for the winter?

You can leave your garden mums in the ground during winter, especially with a layer of mulch in the cooler zones. However, because potted plants are more susceptible to cold damage, bring your mums indoors for winter safekeeping.

How do you overwinter potted mums?

Choose a mostly dark cool area, such as an unheated garage shed or basement, which has temperatures between 32 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures could fall below freezing, wrap the pots with several layers of newspaper to protect the roots. Water your mums so that the soil is slightly moist.

How long do potted mums last outside?

If you wait until things cool off before setting out your mums, you'll be treated to blooms for up to 8 weeks once you have the plants in place.

Is Miracle Grow good for mums?

To get the most from your garden mums, place them in a sunny location and feed them every 7-14 days with an all-purpose water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Or, you can feed and water your mums at the same time with Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed®.

When should you buy fall mums?

Mid-September is the earliest time you should consider buying mums. However, each year the longer and hotter summers are pushing that date later and later into September, even into the month of October. As a rule, we at Southern Living recommend "buying plants as they start to break bud.

What time of year do you plant mums?

It's true: the best time to plant mums is in the spring. It gives them plenty of time to put down roots, gather sunlight in the summer, bloom profusely in autumn, and get ready for the cold season ahead.

Can you leave mums outside?

Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm. Mums will only bloom once inside but keeping it green until you transplant it outdoors will allow you to enjoy it next season.

Are mums annual or perennial?

Garden mums, also known as hardy mums, are perennial mums. Cut-flower chrysanthemums, like spider mums or football mums, are perennials in Zones 5 to 9, and these types are becoming easier to find for sale online.

How do I get my mums to come back every year?

“Planting them now is the trick,” Waterman said. “You can't take a mum out of the pot in October and shove it in the ground and think it will come next year. You have to plant them now to get them established so they make it through the winter.”

What's the difference between garden mums and hardy mums?

Garden mums are the same thing as hardy mums. Nurseries and garden centers have stopped calling them hardy mums overtime. Mums need special care to over make it through the winter. Mum overwintering is dependent on placement, pruning and conditions.

Do mums need 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.

How cold can potted mums tolerate?

In general, potted perennials are two hardiness zones more tender than their stated rating for in-ground plants. This would make potted garden mums hardy only down to USDA zone 9, where the minimum average temperature is from 20 to 30 F.

Do you need to repot mums?

Always repot a purchased potted mum plant when you get it home. They are usually root-bound, meaning that the roots are taking up the majority of the pot. Replant the mums in a container larger than the one it came in so the roots have room to spread out and breathe.

Should you water mums everyday?

After planting, give them a good watering and keep the soil moist everyday until they are established. 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.