The intense colors of fall mums add to any autumn landscape or garden. These are on display at Kirby’s Farm Market in Brockport. K. Gabalski Photo
Fall mums are a favorite in our area for autumn color and blooms in the garden. They have a very long bloom time, come in an array of colors, and are a great way to perk-up late season plantings.
If you’ve noticed that the fall mums you purchase from local stores and garden centers don’t seem to be as hardy as they used to be, you’re right.
When I was in my 20s, I planted fall mums in my garden and they came back and bloomed year after year. I still continue to notice gardens with mums that come back and bloom season after season, but the mums I purchase now and plant, usually don’t come back, even if I get them in the ground in early September.
According to Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, most of the varieties of mums for sale in our area are not perennials. That’s because hardiness has been bred out of mums in favor of flower size, flower color and plant shape.
Additionally, if you want to try to pull them through the winter, mums need to be planted in your garden in August – that’s typically a little earlier than most people usually purchase their fall mums. If mums are planted in September or later, it’s already too late, because they will not have enough time to root and will heave up out of the ground in winter weather.
Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com noted one variety called ‘Mammoth’ – which is a perennial fall mum you might be able to find at garden centers. The bloom is more daisy-like, however, not rounded, like most gardeners prefer.
I have tried with some success at planting Easter mums and getting them to survive over the winter. I cut them back after they bloom in the early spring and plant them in my garden after all danger of frost is past. This year, I was particularly late getting my mum in the ground and the plant was half-dead due to the small size of the container and the fact I had not been good about keeping in watered. I decided to put it in the ground anyway and it has done well. I’m anxious to see if it makes it to next spring. Experts say to remove spent blooms, but keep the stems on the plant over the winter. Mulching around the plant is also a good idea. Sometimes my Easter mums bloom again the same year in the fall and then survive for two-to-three years, blooming again each fall.
Considering the challenges of getting fall mums to survive our winters, it’s probably best to enjoy them as annuals. They look beautiful in the garden or displayed with pumpkins and gourds. Fall mums brighten and refresh fall containers, too.
Remember that mums will tolerate some light frost, but heavy frost will damage opened flowers. Unopened flowers may be OK and open normally after a frost.
On another note – if you are looking to expand your gardening knowledge, the Orleans County Master Gardeners’ Fall Education Series is now underway.
The next class is set for Monday, Oct. 19 at 6 pm. Bring the whole family for ‘Basic Tree Identification‘ with Master Gardener Alex Greene. The program will be held in the Harrington Classroom on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds,12690 Rt. 31 in Albion.
The whole family is invited to enjoy a walk through the Extension grounds followed by a more in-depth discussion of basic tree identification techniques. Children’s activities will be provided during the discussion. The cost is $5, kids under 12 are free.
Register for the program by October 12. Call 585-798-4265 x26 for more information or to register.
