Plant Mums for Plenty of Fall Colour

The Fall Flower

The flower most identified with the fall season is the garden mum. They brighten up flower beds from late-August through November after most plants have finished blooming. Garden mums flower prolifically in a wide array of colours including white, yellow, pink, lavender, red, and bronze. They look great in beds, borders, and containers.

Are Garden Mums Annual or Perennial?

While garden mums are technically perennial (meaning they regrow season after season), they often have trouble surviving the winter, especially in northern areas. Because of this, it may be more helpful to think of them as annuals, which only last a single season.

Planting your Mums in the Garden

Mums are easy to care for and perfect for planting in mass for a bold colour statement. They need to be planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Mix a 8 cm (3") layer of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil All Purpose 0.09 - 0.05 - 0.07 into the top 15 cm (6") of your existing soil before planting. Water them thoroughly after planting and never let newly planted garden mums in flower dry out.

Decorate Outdoors with Mums in Containers

A display of colourful mums in containers is a great way to decorate your patio, deck, or front steps for fall. To plant mums in containers, use a quality potting mix such as Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix.

Feed Until Frost

Flowers last for weeks and most plants will withstand a light frost. To get the most from your garden mums, place them in a sunny location and feed them every 7-14 days with an all-purpose water-soluble plant food like Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food. Or, you can feed and water your mums at the same time with Miracle-Gro® LiquaFeed®. Water as needed to supplement fall rains and provide a steady supply of moisture.