Beautiful mums all fall long? It's easier than you think! Learn how to grow and enjoy chrysanthemums with these simple tips.
Chrysanthemums are really pretty fall garden flowers. You’ll see them sold everywhere from nurseries and big box stores to markets and florists.
There are lots of different garden mum varieties with different color variations, blooms, and size. The majority of mums are winter hardy in Zones 5 through 9. However, there are some that can handle lower zones.
Chrysanthemums produce the most flowers and look their best when they are planted in full sun. Keep them well watered in fall as they have shallow roots that can dry out easily.
As a perennial, they establish best when planted in spring so their roots have plenty of time to develop before the onset of extreme summer and winter conditions.
Plant chrysanthemums in well-draining soil in a hole at least twice the root ball size and mix organic matter like compost and leaf mold. In planters, add fresh potting soil with compost.
While I generally recommend focusing more on soil quality, chrysanthemums thrive with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season. It’s important to fertilize garden mums until they are just about to bloom. Once the buds are formed, stop fertilizing and let the plant do its thing.
As plants grow, it’s important to pinch them back to keep them from getting leggy promoting bushier plants with more flowers. And deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant flowering.
Follow along to learn more about growing chrysanthemums.