Cool crisp autumn days are just around the corner and when we think of fall favorite perennials, we immediately think of Mums! If you’re looking for a gorgeous splash of color on your porch in a mixed container, a window box or as a permanent fixture for your garden, these perennials are the perfect fit for fall landscape decorating.
Because they have a tight rounded shape with magnificent bloom cover, garden mums are perfect for quantity plantings. Maximize your planting efforts by choosing darker shades such as bronze and burgundy with the double blooms instead of the single, daisy-like blooms. They will look better longer and faded flowers will not be as noticeable. In addition, if you remove faded blooms you will encourage even more buds to open giving you color through October as blooms will last for weeks.
Mums come in so many colors you can certainly find colors that will complement your existing landscape. For instance, if you decorate for fall with pumpkins and straw, choose orange, bronze, yellow, and creamy white mums. If you have a lot of evergreens or green foliage, utilize bright pinks, lavenders, pure whites, or reds. With such bold colors, a large grouping of mums can excite even the dullest of fall landscapes.
Mums tend to be happiest in the sun. To keep flowers in bloom you will need to pinch/deadhead the spent blooms and keep the soil moist, but never wet. Check the soil daily while weather is warm, every other day when it’s cooler. Remove faded blooms to encourage even more buds to open and you’ll have color through October.
If you want something more permanent, you can plant the mums you purchase in the fall in the spring and allow them to get established in the garden. Simply move the mum plants inside to a cool but well lighted location once the flowers fade. Keep your plants watered, but do not over water them. In the spring once the frost is past, plant with a bit of bloom fertilizer.
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Have questions or need landscaping assistance? Please contact Beth at 734-732-8200 or visit her website at http://www.landscapebeautybydesignmi.com/
