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Why You Shouldn't Buy Garden Mums Too Early

By stacy ling

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Looking for ways to keep your garden mums alive this fall? Learn why you should hold off buying them.

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Nothing says fall quite like garden mums. They are bright, beautiful and instantly give the fall feels. But the plant frustrates many home decor and gardening enthusiasts because they don’t last long, they dry out, and some don’t return the following season.

Because garden mums have a shallow root system, they are more prone to drying out, particularly in higher temperatures.

Although nurseries and markets start putting them out in August and it is super tempting to buy them, resist the temptation! August and early September are way too early to buy mums. They do not do well in summer heat and only bloom for about 4-6 weeks. 

So if you want your chrysanthemums to last longer, wait until temperatures cool down a bit. If you purchase them in late August through early September on impulse, they won’t last well into October.

Also consider how you intend to use them. Are you buying them for a party the next day?  Purchase ones in that are in full bloom.

Do you have an event that you are decorating for that’s a week or so out?  Then purchase ones that are in partial bloom.

Or is it just an impulse purchase?  Purchase them with more buds and less blooms.

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Follow along to learn more about growing chrysanthemums.

Gardening Tips & Tricks

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