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 colors 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, most do not reliably survive the winter, especially in the north. Planting garden mums in the fall lessens their chance of survival because roots don't have enough time to establish. If you plant mums as annuals, there is no worry that they may not survive the winter.

Planting your Mums in the Garden

Mums are easy to care for and perfect for planting in mass for a bold color statement. They need to be planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Mix a 3-inch layer of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables into the top 6 inches 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 colorful 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.