How to Overwinter Mums for Beautiful Blooms Year After Year
Most people believe that mums are simple plants and bloom easily. But there’s still the question of how to overwinter mums. There are some tips to consider when choosing mums so they can schedule their blooms for when flowers are desired.
It is also important to remember that mums are perennials and should not be discarded when the blooms fade. With some care, mums can thrive as healthy plants, providing stunning blooms again the following year. In this article, we are going to discuss the following:
The Care of Mums from Winter to Spring
When the flowers on mums lose their brightness and start to fade, it indicates that the blooming season is ending.
Snipping off dead flowers can extend their lifespan in the hope of reviving the flowers underneath. While a fresh flush of blooms may appear using this method, it is unlikely to be as large as the initial blooming period.
After trimming mums for the season, it is advisable to wait for the first light frost (not a hard freeze) and then trim the mums down to about 1 to 2 inches above the soil. This will allow mulch to be applied for winter protection.
If mums are in pots, they can be moved to a warmer location, such as a garage. After the first light frost:
- Cut back the plants described above.
- Cover them with 3 inches of mulch.
- Place the pot in an unheated garage covered with a sheet.
When the weather warms up in the spring, remove the mulch and sheet and place the pot outdoors in the sun.
For mums planted in the garden, after the first light frost, cut them down following the same instructions and cover them with 3 to 4 inches of mulch for protection.
Every mum’s lover wants to know will mums survive a frost. So keep mums watered throughout winter, and once the threat of frost has passed, remove the mulch and trim any dead stems.
How to Overwinter Mums
Now, we are going to discuss how to overwinter mums. For those who prefer not to discard their plants when winter arrives, there are ways to help mums survive the cold months.
The most effective way to keep mums healthy for the next season is to bring them indoors. For potted plants, this involves cutting back the stems and foliage to about 3 to 4 inches above the soil, covering the pot, and storing it in an unheated shed or garage.
The temperature should remain between 32°F and 50°F to keep the plant dormant. If mums are planted in the ground, they can be moved to a pot before the ground freezes or heavily mulched.
Adding potting soil and organic fertilizer to the pot will help give the potted mums a strong start in the spring.
Overwintering mums outdoors is also an option in areas with milder winters, such as New York. Heavy mulching prevents the roots from freezing and thawing repeatedly during winter, which can be more harmful than staying frozen. With recent warm winters, this is becoming more likely.
Mums can remain in the ground if provided with enough mulch, and it is advisable to remove dead stems and bury them in mulch soon after the first frost.
By following these steps, mums can be enjoyed year after year, with each year’s blooms becoming larger and more vibrant.
Are Mums Perennials or Annuals?
To find out what mums are perennials, let’s find an answer. Mums are technically perennials, meaning they are expected to return yearly, similar to other perennials like daylilies and catmint. However, in many cases, mums in winter and fall planted do not survive the winter.
This is because fall-planted mums may need more time to establish a strong root system before winter. The plant focuses on flowering and seed production rather than root growth, essential for surviving cold weather.
How to Get Mums to Come Back Next Year
Planting mums early in the growing season gives them the best chance of returning the following year.
Even if it means ordering from a nursery, planting mums in the spring allows them time to establish roots before winter. Planting mums by September at the latest gives them the best chance of surviving. Avoid planting mums in containers, as the roots may not be protected from freezing.
Once mums have finished blooming, deadhead them by removing the dead flowers. Unlike marigolds or roses, deadheading mums will not trigger new blooms that year. Instead, it allows the plant to focus on root growth.
Ensure mums are well-hydrated throughout the growing season, especially during hot, dry weather in late summer and fall. These plants require ample water to thrive, and they will struggle if allowed to dry out.
Following these steps gives mums a better chance of surviving the winter and returning in the spring.
What Kind of Mums Should Be Planted?
- Florist Mums
Florist mums are the common fall mums found in flower shops, supermarkets, and greenhouses. They are bred to sale in pots for the fall blooming season.
These bushy plants can grow up to 2 feet tall and wide. Their small blooms often cover the plant so densely that the foliage is barely visible. The flowers are typically more delicate, and the leaves are narrower than mums in the garden.
Florist mums come in various colors, including pink, white, yellow, red, orange, cream, burgundy, salmon, and bi-color. When purchasing florist mums, select those with the most unopened buds, as the number of buds determines the length of the flowering period. Once the buds are spent, the plant is often discarded.
While florist mums can be hardy in zones 7-9, their shallow root systems make them unsuitable for winter. Because of their short lifespan, florist mums are typically grown in pots for easy disposal after the fall display.
- Garden Mums
Like florist mums, hardy mums bloom in the fall, but they are planted in the spring to allow them to establish themselves. Garden mums have stolons and underground stems that allow them to survive the winter and bloom again yearly. They thrive in zones 4-9.
Garden mums can grow to 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide in a single season. Their growth habit is looser than that of florist mums, and they have fewer but larger blooms.
Their foliage is more visible, and their color range is similar to that of florist mums.
How to Winterize Mums
Mums will likely die out during the colder winter months. Mums planted late in the growing season are near or at the flowering stage, and they won’t put energy into growing roots to sustain themselves through the winter.
The energy that was put into them was spent on flowering. This is why it’s accurate to plant them in autumn or spring to warrant that they can get roots ahead of the season’s chill. After fall, you can winterize your mums by not pruning them.
Additionally, you can add up to six inches of mulch when the ground is frozen for greater protection.
How to Care for Mums in the Flower Bed
Caring for mums (Chrysanthemums) can be a rewarding experience. These vibrant flowers are popular in the fall and can add beauty to indoor and outdoor spaces. Here are some guidelines for planting and caring for mums.
Remember that mums require at least six hours of sunlight daily when choosing a location. Dig holes slightly larger and deeper than the root balls, spacing them 18 inches apart for adequate air circulation.
Place the mums in the holes so they are level with the soil surface. Backfill the holes with garden soil until the mums are at ground level.
Following the package directions, water the mums using a water-soluble plant food to encourage healthy growth.
After planting, cover the area with a 3-inch thick layer of mulch. Water the mums regularly until they are established.
In areas with cold winters, removing the mums and planting them in pots is advisable. Store the pots in an unheated garage under a grow light during winter, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Move them outside after the last frost in spring.
Finally, mums do not thrive in wet conditions. Plant them in raised beds or containers with good drainage to ensure they grow well—plant mums in groups of three to five of the same variety for maximum color impact.
Wrapping Up How To Overwinter Mums
These suggestions will assist you in knowing how to overwinter mums and preparing your mums to overwinter so they return the following year and, we hope, for years to come! Watch various videos on YouTube or read articles to ensure you have three possibilities for winterizing your mums.
We thank you for reading this article and hope any aspect will help you improve your gardening skills.
FAQ
How Can Mums Last Throughout The Season?
How Can Mums Last Throughout The Season? If you want to plant mums in the soil, add up to 5 inches of mulch to the ground around the plant when temperatures drop into the fall. Once the ground freezes, the protective mulch remains around the base. This will protect your mum from the upcoming cold weather extremes.
How Can Potted Mums Be Kept Healthy?
After you’ve repotted your mothers, all you need to do is
- Put your moms in a bright area of your home
- Make sure the soil is damp
- Deadheads often
- When your mums have stopped blooming, you can plant them outside in the sun when the weather begins to get warmer
How Long Do Potted Mums Last?
8 Weeks
When the temperatures are high in the summer heat, flowers will fade after only a couple of weeks, so you’ll need to replace them more quickly to maintain a vibrant display throughout the season. When you let the temperatures cool down before planting your mums, you’ll enjoy flowers for up to eight weeks after the flowers are erected.
Do Mums Multiply?
Cuttings and division propagate chrysanthemums. Divide mums in spring time when new growth starts to show. Using an axe, divide the entire plant into sections. Each section should have several shoots and part of the root systems.
