Overwintering Mums - How To Winterize Mums

After the foliage of the plant has died back, you will need to cut it back. Cut back the stems of the mums to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm.) above the ground. Leaving a little bit of the stems will ensure that next year you have a full plant, as the new stems will grow from these trimmed stems.

How do I save my potted mums for next year?

In the fall of the second year and beyond, leave the mums foliage in tact through the winter. Mulch the base of the plant with a thick two to three-inch covering of straw or leaves. This will help insulate the roots from extreme cold. In the spring, cut back the foliage, and repeat with summer cut back care.

Can potted mums be kept over 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. ... Move the plant indoors to a dark area that is between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Will potted mums come back next year?

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. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year.

Can garden mums survive winter?

Although garden mums are often called hardy mums, they may not survive the winter if drainage is poor or if you live in an extremely cold climate. If your mums survive the winter, you'll see new growth developing around the base of the plant in early spring.

How do you winterize mums in pots?

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.

Do you deadhead mums?

Deadhead often for lasting blooms. Take off wilted blooms and dead stems/leaves not only makes your mums look more beautiful, it helps your plant to bloom longer. Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm.

How do you preserve mums for winter?

If you cut the mums back to the ground, fewer stems will grow next year. After this, when wintering mums, it is best to provide a heavy layer of mulch over the plant after the ground has frozen. The mulch for winterizing mums can be straw or leaves. This layer of mulch helps to keep the ground insulated.

Can mums survive a freeze?

Most garden mums should be able to endure a light fall frost. Cover the plants at night when freeze warnings are in effect. ... However, if you are in a cold climate, leaving the dead foliage on the plants has been found to help the plant survive colder temperatures better than pruned plants.

Can you keep mums alive all year?

Keeping your mums alive from year to year all starts with selecting the right mums at the time of purchase. ... Garden mums are a true perennial, and with a little fall preparation, can be kept and grown year after year. With a hardiness from growing zones 5 to 9, it is these mums you want to purchase and save!

How late can I plant mums in the fall?

If you're planting for next fall, the best time to plant mums is after the last frost. Since the roots of this plant are shallow, planting in the spring gives them enough time for growing a suitable root network.

How long do potted mums last?

Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.

How do I revive my mums?

If your mums have been overtaken by fungus, their blooms may be brown and the plants may look dead. Treating the fungus can eliminate the problem and revive the plants. Pests, such as worms, also can make mums appear unsightly and dead, but removing the pests may encourage the plants to grow leaves and produce blooms.

When should I trim my mums?

It's always best to cut mums back every spring shortly after they first begin to grow. Timing is everything. If you don't cut mums back in early spring, then they are more likely to produce a premature and disappointing period of poor bloom in summer and a lackluster season of poor bloom in fall.

How cold is too cold for mums?

Mums are cold hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive hot temperatures from 90 to 100 F, but they'll need plenty of water and a little shade.

Do mums like sun or shade?

How Much Sunlight Do Mums Require? 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 do you plant mums in the fall?

For your fall mums to have the best chance at survival in cold areas, overwinter them in the basement or a dark, cold closet. Pot up plants after the first frost if they are in the ground; include as much root system as possible. Leave the foliage on the plants until spring.

Can I plant mums in September?

Most gardeners plant mums too late in the fall for the plants to survive over winter. Some of the mums may come back the next year if they are mulched. The shallow-rooted mums that are planted late in fall while in full bud or flower just do not have enough time to establish before winter sets in.

How do you keep mums alive in pots?

Set potted mums indoors near a window that receives bright, indirect sunlight all day, or place them outdoors where they can receive five hours of morning sunlight and afternoon shade. ...
Check the mums' soil moisture daily, and water the mums when the top 1 inch of soil begins to dry.

Can you split mums in the fall?

Answer: Don't be tempted to divide your mums in the fall. They respond best to being split in the spring, just as they're starting to grow. Dig up the plant. Discard the center of the clump and replant the vigorous outer roots.

Do Fall mums come back?

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. But if you buy hardy mums, you can get them to bloom year after year.

How do you not kill mums?

Deadhead the Mums

The plants benefit greatly from it and look much better when finished. If you keep up with deadheading, chances are the mums will last longer and may repeat bloom.