Perennial Garden Mums For Sale

Brightly colored fall chrysanthemums, or "mums," are hard to miss as summer winds down and fall approaches. They can be purchased just about any place that sells plants, from garden centers to grocery stores. It's easy to find mums in fall hues of yellow, bronze, purple or burgundy, but they also come in white, pink and red. These plants can either be planted in containers and hanging baskets or stuck into the ground to fill gaps in the garden.

Regardless of how they are used, do not expect them to survive the winter. The fall blooming mums that can be purchased late in the growing season have not been bred for cold hardiness. If they do manage to live through the winter, they seldom bloom again. It is almost always easier to treat them as annuals and add them to the compost heap after the first hard frost. Planting chrysanthemum in the spring gives the perennial plant time to establish and adapt to its new garden home.

You'll easily find mums in garden centers and nurseries in both fall and spring, but planning ahead is key to successful planting. Planting in the spring will also result in a bigger bloom the following season. Although some fall mums can survive winter if planted immediately, the odds are much better with spring-planted mums.

Plant mums as soon as the soil warms in the spring. From late spring to mid-summer, pinch back the tips and flower buds on all shoots to make the plant bushier and prepare it for a dramatic fall show. For optimal blooming, the plants should be fertilized regularly throughout the growing season. After the blooms fade, cut the plants down to about 6 inches, and cover them with straw or another dry mulch to protect the roots over winter. Established plants should be lifted and divided every two to three years.

Occasionally garden mums do winterkill, especially if the soil drains poorly or if there are excessive temperature fluctuations in the winter. Since mums have shallow root systems they are very easily damaged by freezing and thawing. This type of winter damage can be prevented with mulching and proper care in the fall. Garden mums are much more likely to survive the winter if the dead plant stems are not removed until the spring. Additionally, adding a 2-4-inch layer of mulch over the crowns of plants can help. Pine needles, shredded bark, clean straw or evergreen boughs work well, but avoid leaves as these flatten and provide very little insulation.

Remove the mulch once the ground thaws in April and cut back dead stems before new growth begins. That said, Id like to give you some some tips to boost your chances of keeping mums as perennials. Avoid planting them in areas subject to cold, drying northerly or northwesterly winds.

Plant cold-hardy mums, like those with cultivar names beginning with Minn. Stop fertilizing plants by the end of July to discourage new growth late in the season. To promote roots that are well established by winter, keep the soil moist, but not soggy, throughout the fall.

After the soil freezes, add several inches of a loose mulch, such as straw or hay, around the plants to a depth of several inches. Wait until spring to cut the plants backthe stems will protect the crown . I've also had success overwintering mums in containers by putting them in an unheated garage and keeping the soil barely moist.

You can plant perennial mums any time after the last frost . Look for hardy varieties called MN mums or Mammoth mums, since all mums are perennials but not all are hardy for MN. Plant them at the same soil level that they had in their container in full sun to light shade and in well-drained soil.

When mums are planted early, they will need to be pinched back every two weeks until the 4th of July for compact and multi-bloom plants. Mums can also be planted during summer, but in MN, to create a well-established plant before winter, the earlier in the season they get in the ground the better. Mums aren't exactly "pruned," but are instead pinched throughout the growing season. This helps the plant branch out, become fuller and offer more blooms. When your plant reaches 6 inches tall in the spring, simply pinch off 1 inch of each shoot. Repeat this every 2 to 3 weeks until early summer.Deadhead spent blooms throughout the fall for an extended bloom time.

Once the plant has died in the winter, resist cutting it back. Research reveals that allowing it to die back naturally over the winter produces a stronger plant. Simply clean up the dead stems and foliage in the spring. Good drainage is especially important for successful overwintering. We trim the plants back before shipping to promote bushiness, but any ambitious shoot which is getting ahead of the plant should be tipped back.

All growing tips should be pinched back until the 4th of July. Can be divided in spring if needed or if center of clump is not producing new growth. Mulch for winter protection only in very cold areas and be sure to remove the mulch before the spring thaw. If you live in a cold climate, it is best to leave the foliage on the plant, even after it has browned and died, to increase the plant's chance of surviving the winter. In spring, you can prune out the dead leaves before the new ones start to develop. There are garden mums and florist mums, and the difference is their hardiness.

Garden mums are tough perennials you plant outdoors where they can live year round. Florist mums are used as indoor potted plants and won't survive a winter if you plunk them into your garden in the Midwest. Be sure you are buying the right mum for your purposes. Want a blooming plant to decorate the house for the Thanksgiving guests?

Buy that foil wrapped pot of chrysanthemums in the floral section of the grocery store. Get a mum suited for the great outdoors from a nursery or garden center. Mums are typically perennial in our area, although some colder winters may kill them. Most planting guides recommended spring planting for mums if you would like them remain in your garden as perennials. However, fall planting is the common practice since plants are readily available and often have showy flowers at that time.

Mums die in winter because that their shallow, fibrous roots system may get frozen as the upper soil layers freeze and thaw over winter. Just look at this lovely selection of daylilies that are just waiting to add a touch of brightness to your summer gardens. Daylilies are rugged, adaptable, vigorous perennials that endure in a garden for many years with little or no care. Daylilies adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions.

They establish quickly, grow vigorously, and survive winters with little or no injury. Each daylily plant produces an abundance of flower buds that open over a long period of time. There are many varieties, a wide range of flower colors, and the flowers continue during the heat of the summer. However, there are varieties that are truly perennial in most climates when planted in the early spring or in the fall several weeks before the first frost.

These plants grow fast, and you should have flowers in the first growing season. Bloom times vary with variety and climate from early September through mid-October. While most growers view garden mums as a fall commodity, the possibility of enhancing spring and summer sales should not be overlooked.

Garden mums can also be shaded and grown for markets in July and August. The most common market for garden mums continues to be late summer and fall which will be the focus of this fact sheet. If you're using a mum as a perennial, plant in early spring, or in the fall at least six weeks before the first killing frost.

In general, the densely flowering mums that are offered for sale in full bloom in the fall should not be counted on to overwinter. You should find true winter hardy mums offered at garden centers alongside other hardy perennials, available throughout the planting season. Ideally, these should be planted in spring or summer to allow the roots a chance to establish before winter.

While many of these Mum varieties are indeed hardy, they are unlikely to overwinter in our northern gardens. This is because they are entering the winter in a weakened state. Growers pamper them in greenhouses throughout the season. Garden Chrysanthemums love full sun and rich, well-drained soil and are photoperiodic, meaning they bloom in response to shorter days and longer nights.

A night length of 12 hours triggers bud formation. Cooler night temperatures also encourage blooming. Individual flowers on the plants can last from three to six weeks.

High temperatures and lack of water shorten the flowering period. Most garden mums can withstand several light frosts. To help ease their transition into Winter, it is a good idea to harden them off a bit before you plant them in your yard. Do this by placing them in a bright sunny place in your home for a week or two before planting outside.

Then plant them in a protected sunny place and water them well. Garden mums are readily available in a wide range of colors for purchase now and a great way to add late season color to your garden. You may also see the terms "hardy mums," "fall mums" and "chrysanthemums" used for these plants at garden centers.

Mums that are purchased in the fall in containers should be placed in full sun to light shade. They should be watered as needed as with other pots. Most varieties sold in the fall are not hardy for MN. They are bred for fall color and the large number of blossoms. Mums are usually used as a fall color decoration for steps, patios and gardens and disposed after done flowering.

They are a perfect replacement for the tired summer annuals, because of their cold tolerance and long lasting blooms. To ensure the winter survival mums, there are several considerations to follow when planting in spring or fall. First, and most importantly, you must select the right site in your garden. Mums prefer well-drained soil, so don't plant them areas with poor drainage or occasional standing water.

They also prefer full sun , which is needed for plants to thrive and produce large, extensive roots that can survive winter stress. If you have a more protected spot that is, closer to you home, south-facing and more protected from wind, mums will do better there. Avoid planting mums near outdoor lights as it may confuse day length and inhibit flower formation.

Throughout the fall season, garden centers are filled with a beautiful selection of mums . It is a wonderful time to plant these attractive, fall blooming plants, but some consideration should be given when planting in fall. Dramatic Oriental lilies add interest to the summer garden.

Their large flowers bloom atop tall stems with a powerful fragrance that intensifies as the sun goes down. These stunning Mona Lisa lilies offer soft pink flowers with darker pink veins and a deep blush in the center, and dark, showy speckles. The shorter size and prolific blooms of this lily make it an excellent choice for containers. They perform best in full sun in rich well drained soil either in the gardens or in patio containers.

They make great companions with other bulbs, perennials and are great butterfly plants. Without pinching, plants tend to develop tall, weak stems and few flowers. Dividing plants every other year reduces crowding, which can contribute to foliage disease development, and provides new plants for the garden. Divide plants in the spring, after the average date of the last killing frost. Lift plants out of the soil and gently wash some of the soil from the roots. Each old plant will be surrounded by several small new plants, each with its own roots.

Separate the plants carefully, replant the small ones and discard the old ones. Fertilizing your mums gives them an added boost of essential nutrients for the best growth. The primary growth of chrysanthemum plant varieties takes place in spring and early summer. If you plant fall mums, wait to begin their fertilization until the spring.