August 21, 2023
Plant Profile: Garden (Fall) Mums
You know fall is coming when: the temperature starts to drop; the leaves start to turn brilliant tones; your sweaters come out of the storage closet, and your gardens start to lose their lustre. But not to worry, because now you can fill your beds and containers with beautiful fall bloomers like Fall Mums! Also known as Garden Mums or Chrysanthemums, they add a vibrant pop of colour and are available in shades of yellow, orange, red, white, and even pink and purple. The perfect addition to late season gardens and containers!
Fall Mums can bloom from 3 to 8 weeks, depending on the weather and their current blooming stage. They are deemed a “tender perennial” because they typically do not survive our harsh winter climates. They could come back next year if certain variables are met (mild winter, planted in the garden close to your home’s foundation, protected from north winds, etc.) but we prefer to err on the side of caution and treat them as a late blooming Annual.
Did you know that Belgian Nursery grows all of its 10” Fall Mum pots on site? We receive thousands of tiny plant plugs in early June and give each one a cozy home in their own pot — except our larger 14” planters, which get 3 plugs each for 3 times the colour! We typically have over 35 varieties, including “Belgian Mums” (yes, that is their actual name!) and all our Mums are planted and organized according to their bloom times: Early, Mid- or Late Season, and Season Extender. Depending on the weather, ‘Early’ bloomers can start to show colour as early as mid-August, while ‘Season Extenders’ might wait to open their buds until Thanksgiving! So depending on the variety, you could be enjoying fall blooms right up until frost!
Fall Mums love the cooler autumn temperatures, meaning they won’t dry out as fast as your summer Annuals. Allow your Mums to dry out slightly between deep waterings, but do not let them dry out completely! Make sure not to allow their buds and tips to droop, but if they do you’ll need to water them as soon as possible!
Come in to Belgian in the late summer and fall and discover our gorgeous rainbow of Fall Mums! You’ll find them in our Perennial Centre, where they are restocked from our growing field as they come into colour. And check out our other fall-loving Annuals like Ornamental Cabbage, Ornamental Kale, Celosia, and Annual Purple Fountain Grass — all perfect for fall gardens and arrangements!
Light: Full Sun to Part Sun – afternoon sun is great for Fall Mums and really helps their colours pop!
Water: Allow pots to dry out slightly between deep waterings; ensure that water runs out the bottom of the pot.
Fertilize: Use an all-purpose fertilizer every 2 weeks while blooming.
Clean: A light deadheading as blooms fade will help the other buds come up bright and strong.
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