If you have been to your favorite garden center lately, you could not have helped noticing they are packed with mums. Mums are a fall favorite and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Colors would include yellow, orange, red, pink, burgundy, purple, and white… probably some more. They also come in a variety of flower shapes. Cushions are a double-flowered cultivar. Decoratives have double or semi-double flowers. Pompoms have smaller ball-shaped flowers and Buttons have small double flowers. However, when most of us go shopping for fall mums, we likely base our purchasing decisions on how many flowers they have and our favorite colors.

While we tend to treat mums as annuals, they are winter hardy in zones 5 through 9. We are in zone 7 so mums can do well here in the right growing conditions.

One of the reasons we typically treat mums as annuals is that we tend to purchase them in the fall and the fall is not the best time to plant mums. Spring planting works best since this allows them to work on building a good system of roots to support the plant. However, if you do plan on planting your fall mum purchases, planting them sooner rather than later is a good idea.

Another one of the challenges associated with planting mums is that they tend to have shallow root systems. Shallow root systems make them susceptible to damage from repeated freezing and thawing during the winter. So, if planting fall mums is on your agenda, be sure to give them a healthy layer of mulch to help minimize soil temperature swings.

Shallow roots also make them more susceptible to drying out during the winter so plan on some supplemental watering during the winter. And of course, mulch helps the soil retain moisture which gives them a better chance at survival.

When picking a spot to plant your mums, they prefer a spot with moist, well-drained soil. Wet soil can contribute to root rot which will diminish their ability to survive. They also need the sun, so pick out a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sun per day.

Also, try to resist the temptation to cut back the top growth in the winter after the plant has gone dormant. This old growth will actually help provide some additional insulation which will contribute to their ability to survive the winter. This growth from the previous year can be cut back in the spring once the new growth begins.

When new spring growth gets over 6 inches long, remove the growing tips of the branches. This will encourage your plant to be bushier and produce more blooms. During the growing season you can pinch them back two or three times but stop this practice around the first of July.

If you have been successful and you are getting your mums to return yearly, plan on dividing them every few years in the spring as soon as new growth begins. Good luck.

You can get answers to all your gardening questions by calling the Tulsa Master Gardeners Help Line at 918-746-3701, dropping by our Diagnostic Center at 4116 E. 15th Street, or by emailing us at mg@tulsamastergardeners.org. Photo: OSU Ag. Communications