Just as the leaves start to paint the landscape of Happy Valley with hues of red and gold, fall mums step into the spotlight. These vibrant seasonal beauties not only infuse your outdoor spaces with instant autumnal charm but, with a little know-how, can keep gracing your garden year after year. In this guide, we’ll dive into the art of choosing and caring for fall mums and offer insights on planting them to ensure that they return season after season. Plus, we’ll reveal a clever way to repurpose them for winter.
Selecting Your Perfect Fall Mum
—Variety matters: Mums come in a variety of colors, including traditional autumnal shades like deep red, golden yellow and rich orange. More unique hues have come into the market, including pale mauve and peach fusion. Choose a hue that complements your outdoor decor.
—Healthy specimens: Always pick mums with healthy green foliage and buds just starting to open. Avoid those with brown or yellowing leaves or overspent blooms.
Caring for Your Fall Mums
Sun and water: Mums thrive in full sun but appreciate some afternoon shade during hot spells. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A well-draining soil mix is key.
—Pruning: After the first round of blooms fades, give your mums a trim to encourage a second burst of color. Snip off spent flowers and leggy growth.
Planting for Perennials
Did you know mums are hardy perennials in our region? If you want your mums to return year after year, follow these planting tips:
—Early fall planting: Ideally, plant your mums in the garden in early fall to allow their roots to establish before winter.
—Good drainage: Ensure proper soil drainage to prevent waterlogged roots during winter.
—Mulch for insulation: Applying a layer of mulch around your mums and other perennials in late fall can help insulate them from harsh winter temperatures.
—Trim in spring: Come spring, trim back any dead growth to make way for fresh shoots.
Don’t Toss Them in Winter
Even if you don’t plant your mums in the ground, don’t discard them after the fall show is over. Instead, follow this tip:
—Winter planter base: Trim down the foliage of your spent mums, leaving about an inch or two above the soil. Use these compacted plants as the base for your winter planters. They’ll act as excellent insulation and moisture retention for winter planters ingredients like evergreen branches and winterberry.
With these simple steps, your fall mums can become a perennial joy in your garden or a sustainable start to your winter decor. And don’t forget, while supplies last, you can find locally grown mums, pumpkins and fall decor right here at Rooted Farmstead.
