One important tip to making mums last is buying them before they are fully in flower.
I’m often asked “what can I do to make my mums come back in the spring?”
The reality is that there’s only a 50/50 chance that the plants will overwinter.
They’re expending so much energy when they bloom right now that it’s hard for the plant to establish a good root system.
Here are some tips-
Buy from a good grower who’s taken care of the plant. All the mums I used on the show are from Hahn Nursery in Ross, but any good nursery will work.
Choose plants with tight buds. I know gardeners love to buy their flowers in bloom, but the plants will flower much longer if bought in this stage.
Keep the plants watered when it doesn’t rain.
Plant them with the help of compost, always improve the soil.
Don’t cut them back until the spring. Mums benefit from holding onto their branches over the winter.
If they come back, give them a haircut, removing the buds, twice during the season. this will cause lots of branching and in turn, lots of flowers.
