How to Get Mums to Come Back Next Year
How to Get Mums to Come Back Next Year
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Big colorful pots of chrysanthemums (or simply “mums”) are sold in the fall at most garden centers. Most people simply enjoy them for the season, throw them out, and then buy new ones the following autumn. But mums can actually be grown as perennials if you treat them correctly. Let’s discuss how to get mums to come back year after year.
Tips for Growing Perennial Mums
Over the years, I have attempted to transition my garden into having as many perennials as possible, to save myself work, money and waste. It’s my goal to create a beautiful flower garden that comes back year after year, requiring as few annual purchases and disposable pots as possible. Mums are one of my favorites since they provide a beautiful pop of color during the autumn season when many of the other flowers are done blooming.
Getting your mums to grow year after year can be a little tricky, and there are never any guarantees. If you have a particularly cold, wet winter, they may simply not make it. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of seeing them year after year. And once they are well-established, they become easier to maintain.
Tip 1: Buy the right kind.
Be aware that there are “hardy mums” and then there are other kinds which are not bred to be as tough. These may be labeled as “fancy” mums or something else. Be sure to look for the term “hardy” on the plant tag. I have actually had some non-hardy mums come back the following year, and if you don’t have very cold winters where you live, they might come back easily. But if you do have hard winters, be sure to stick with hardy mums.
Tip 2: Plant as early as possible.
It’s unfortunate that most garden centers where I live don’t even start selling mums until August or later. The sooner you can get them into the soil, the more time they will have to establish themselves and root firmly. If you can find any in early or mid-summer – grab them! You could also attempt to grow mums from seed, but I have not tried that personally. I have grown mums from cuttings and kept them going over the winter to plant in spring, check out my article How to Grow Mums from Cuttings.
Tip 3: Plant in a sunny, well-draining spot.
The roots of the mum can get damaged over the winter if they are in a wet area that freezes. They will likely not survive icy roots. If you can plant them in a spot that is a little higher than the surrounding area in soil that drains well, they’ll have a better chance. If it is sheltered from cold winds, that is also helpful. The plant needs to get at least 5 hours of sun per day to grow strong and establish healthy roots.
Tip 4: Trim them after they are done flowering.
Trimming back the dead flowers keeps the plant from investing its energy in making seeds. Trim the plant back after it is done blooming, leaving about 4-6 inches of growth. Next year, the plant should regrow on last year’s branches.
Tip 5: Mulch!
Putting a nice think layer of bark, wood chips, straw or leaf mulch around the base of the plant before winter will help protect the roots.
That’s it! I hope this helps and that you enjoy your mums for many years to come.
