How to Keep Mums Looking Beautiful All Fall in Connecticut
How to Keep Mums Looking Beautiful All Fall in Connecticut
Nothing says fall quite like mums. By September, our garden center is filling up with them in just about every fall color, and they’re one of the easiest ways to completely change the look of your porch, patio or garden.
But if you’ve ever brought home a beautiful mum only to have it start looking tired a week or two later, a few simple changes can make a big difference.
Choose Mums With Plenty of Buds
It’s tempting to grab the plant with the most flowers already open, but if you want your mums to last, look for plants with lots of unopened buds.
Those buds will continue opening over the next several weeks, giving you a much longer season of color.
Give Them Plenty of Sun
Mums are happiest with plenty of sunshine. A location that receives around six hours or more of sun each day will generally give you the best flowering and color.
If your porch is very shady, you may want to move your mums into a sunnier spot periodically.
Don’t Let Them Dry Out
This is the big one.
Mums grown in containers can dry out surprisingly quickly, especially during the warm, sunny September days we still get here in Connecticut.
Check the soil regularly and water thoroughly whenever it begins to feel dry. Large, full mums may need water more often than you expect.
Water the Soil, Not the Flowers
When watering, aim underneath the plant and soak the soil rather than pouring water over the flowers.
This helps keep the blooms looking fresh while making sure the roots receive the water they need.
Make Sure Your Pots Can Drain
Mums like consistent moisture, but they don’t want to sit in standing water.
If you’re putting a mum inside a decorative planter or basket, make sure excess water has somewhere to drain.
Mix Mums With Other Fall Favorites
Mums are beautiful on their own, but they’re even better mixed with other fall plants.
Try pairing them with asters, ornamental peppers, grasses, perennials, pumpkins or other seasonal favorites to create a full fall display.
Come See What’s Blooming at Designs by Lee
Our lath house is filling up with fall color, with mums arriving in different colors and sizes throughout the season.
Stop by Designs by Lee Garden Center in Stamford, Connecticut to walk through the selection, find your favorites and ask our team any questions you have about keeping them looking their best.
Designs by Lee Garden Center
129 Interlaken Road
Stamford, CT
