A must have for a beautiful fall garden display are mums! Before picking from our amazing selection of Iowa grown garden mums, find out everything you need to know about making your mums last!
Wait!
It’s nearly impossible to resist snatching up a pop of the new season’s colors once fall mums are on the shelf but wait if you can! It is best to practice patience and wait until temperatures cool down a touch before making your purchase. Mums flourish in fall’s cooler temperatures (60’s or lower), which typically arrive mid to late September. It may be a challenge to wait a few weeks, but in return your mums will last much longer!
Buy budded, not blown!
If you decide you cannot wait to buy your mums, follow this piece of advice! Buy budded, not blown! While the mums on the shelf in bloom are full and colorful, it is likely they will not last through the entire fall season. Instead, go for the mum that is tightly budded. These mums will last longer, giving them the opportunity to grow even fuller than the already bloomed ones!
Water, water, water!
Mums are thirsty plants and greatly dislike drying out! As soon as you get your mum home, check to make sure the soil is moist; if it is dry, give your mum a drink! Check your mum daily to maintain soil moisture, but be sure not to give it so much water that it is sitting in a puddle! It is also helpful to water your mum at the base of the plant, where the soil is. Watering over the tops of the blooms may cause them to deteriorate.
A Quick Cool Down!
Mums love to enjoy the sunshine on a cool fall day, but if the temperatures start to rise into the 70’s or higher, help them seek shelter! On hot days, pull your mum into a shaded area. This will help keep them cool and prevent them from going into full bloom!
Deadhead!
Just like with your petunias in the spring, an essential part of encouraging new growth and blooms on your mums is to remove spent blooms. To do this, simply pinch off fading, brown, or wilted blooms below the calyx.
Rain, rain, go away!
While mums love to have moist soil, they do not stand up well against heavy rains! Excess moisture held on the blooms can cause deterioration and result in a sad, soggy mum! Keep an eye on the weather forecast and consider pulling your mum under protective cover when there is a possibility of rain.
If you follow these simple mum purchasing and caretaking tips you will be well on your way to creating a fall garden display. Pair them with a Bushel of Color planter, Rudbeckia Denver Daisy, and an ornamental pepper to complete your look!
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