Enticed by the beautiful, colorful mums displayed at the box stores or garden centers at the end of summer, or that rush of excitement we feel while shopping at Costco and spotting those fall mums just waiting for us to take them home, we give in and buy them all.
Sadly, these chrysanthemums often succumb to one season of enjoyment as many new gardeners mistakenly think they are annuals. At the end of their growing season, they are cast aside as scrap as we all move on to Christmas season. We’re here to tell you that this does not have to happen! We can save them and enjoy them year after year, even if they’re not hardy in your growing zone.
That’s right, you can (and should) overwinter your potted fall mums, aka hardy mums, and we’ll teach you three, different ways in which to do this below.
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Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are a popular fall flower that provide a burst of color to gardens and landscapes While they are commonly grown as annuals, with a little care and preparation, mums can be overwintered and rebloom the next year. This allows you to have colorful mums in your garden every fall without replanting Here is a complete guide on what to do with chrysanthemums in the winter so you can keep them thriving year after year.
When To Start Preparing Mums For Winter
The key to successfully overwintering mums starts in late summer or early fall, before winter arrives. Here are the optimal times to begin getting your mums ready for cold weather:
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August-September – Planting mums. Get young potted mums planted into the garden soil so roots become well established before winter. Container-grown mums are harder to overwinter
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September-October – Pruning and mulching. After the first light frosts hit, prune back foliage and add protective mulch around the base of plants.
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November-December – Final protection. Place containers in protected areas and add extra layers of insulation around in-ground mums.
Preparing chrysanthemums for dormancy in fall is crucial to their winter survival. Start the process before extreme cold sets in.
How To Overwinter Mums In Pots And Containers
Potted mums can be overwintered but require a bit more care and effort than those planted in garden beds. Follow these tips to improve their chances of survival:
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Move pots to an unheated garage or sheltered area of the yard. Avoid exposing them to icy winter winds and extreme cold. An enclosed porch also works well.
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Stop fertilizing and limit watering to 1-2 times per month. Too much moisture can lead to rotting.
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Remove any decorative plastic or foil wrap and ensure pots have drainage holes. Good air circulation is important.
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On exceptionally cold nights below 25°F (-4°C), provide added insulation like burlap or blankets.
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Check pots occasionally for moisture. Water only if soil is very dry to touch.
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Prune back dead foliage to 2-3 inches in early spring as new growth appears.
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Repot in fresh soil or divide overcrowded plants. Move back outside after danger of frost passes.
With adequate dry cold protection, container mums stand a fighting chance to re-bloom another year.
How To Overwinter Mums In The Garden
Chrysanthemums planted directly in garden beds have the highest rate of winter survival. Follow proper technique:
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Select hardy mum varieties rated for your zone. Check plant tags for zone information.
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Plant mums in well-draining soil enriched with compost. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites.
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After first frosts, prune back dead foliage to 2-4 inches above soil level. Leave some stems intact.
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Mound 6 inches of shredded leaves, straw, evergreen branches or other organic mulch over the soil surrounding each plant.
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Water occasionally if winter is dry. Check soil moisture under mulch by poking your finger in and feeling if its moist.
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Remove excess mulch in spring as soon as growth resumes. New shoots will emerge from the old stems so avoid pulling these out.
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Cover with row cloth fabric if nighttime frosts threaten in early spring. New foliage is tender.
Take time to properly insulate and care for garden mums through winter and you’ll be rewarded with healthy plants and gorgeous reblooming flowers next fall.
Dividing Overgrown Mums In Spring
Mums left undisturbed for several years often become overcrowded, which inhibits flowering. Here’s how to revive them by division:
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Dig up whole clumps in early spring and break apart into smaller sections.
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Divide with a sterilized knife just below the roots where new shoots emerge.
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Replant divisions 18-24 inches apart to allow for optimal growth.
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Water well and add a balanced flower fertilizer to help young divisions establish quicky.
Dividing overwintered mums every 2-3 years rejuvenates them and gives you more plants to expand flower beds or share with gardening friends.
Troubleshooting Problems Overwintering Mums
Sometimes mums fail to survive winter despite your best efforts. Here are some common issues and solutions:
Leaves and stems turned mushy black – This often indicates rot from overly wet soil. Ensure mums have good drainage.
All foliage died – Extreme cold may have killed tops. Check lower stems for life. Mound extra mulch around bases to protect crowns.
No new growth emerges in spring – Scrape away surface mulch and check for signs of life in stems. If none, clumps may have died from cold or rot.
New shoots are weak and spindly – Add organic fertilizer to stimulate growth after winter dormancy. Prune back any dead wood.
Flowers are small or sparse – Dividing and transplanting can often reinvigorate old plants so they produce their best blooms again.
Tips For Healthy Reblooming Mum Care
To ensure your overwintered mums reflower abundantly the following fall, provide proper care all season long:
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Pinch back new shoots in spring to encourage bushy, compact growth. Stop pinching in early July.
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Water mums 1-2 inches per week during the growing season, more in hot, dry spells.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer when foliage resumes growth in spring and again in early summer.
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Stake tall mums varieties to prevent flopping in rainy, windy weather.
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Scout for common pests like aphids and mites and take control measures as needed.
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Remove any flower buds until late summer to channel the plant’s energy into vegetation.
With attentive spring and summer care, your garden mums will transition back to flowering mode on their own when fall approaches again.
AlternativeUses For Mums After Winter
If your mums unfortunately don’t survive winter, don’t discard them just yet. Here are some alternative ways to enjoy chrysanthemums even after their growing season is done:
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Dry flowers – Harvest blooms at peak and hang upside down to air dry. Use in floral arrangements.
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Press flowers – Place flowers between sheets of absorbent paper weighted down. Great for scrapbooking or framed art.
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Make tea – Dry and pulverize chrysanthemum flowers and leaves to brew into an herbal tea. Has medicinal properties.
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Extract insecticide – Steep mums in water for several weeks, then strain. Spray on plants as a natural pest deterrent.
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Craft with stems – Dry curled stems and spray paint in holiday colors. Glue together to make wreaths and ornaments.
With a bit of creativity, you can continue to get value from your mums even after the growing season has ended. Don’t toss them out without considering how they can be repurposed in other fun ways!
Key Takeaways On Caring For Mums Through Winter
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Start preparing mums for winter dormancy in late summer/early fall by pruning, mulching, and moving containers to protected areas before frost hits.
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Insulate potted mums by moving to a cool protected location like an unheated garage and limit watering over winter.
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Garden-planted mums should be cut back after frost then heavily mulched with leaves, straw or evergreen branches to protect the soil and crown.
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Water occasionally during winter if rainfall is lacking to keep soil slightly moist. Too much water can cause rotting.
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In spring, remove mulch from garden mums as soon as new growth appears. Repot containers and move back outside once risk of frost has passed.
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Dividing overgrown mums every 2-3 years in early spring reinvigorates them and encourages prolific reblooming.
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Provide proper sunlight, fertilizer, and pest control during summer to ensure planted mums rebound and flower well next fall.
With the right winter protection and care, your hardy chrysanthemum plants can survive cold weather and continue lighting up your autumn garden for years to come.
Quick Growing and Care Tips for Hardy Mums:
- Mums are generally hardy in zones 5-9.
- They thrive in full sun (at least 6 hours).
- They like regular watering when actively growing and flowering, which means you need to keep the soil constantly moist around roots.
- They prefer well-draining and nutrient-rich soil.
- You can pinch them at least once in mid summer so the plant will be fuller with more blooms.
- Fertilize them with a well-balanced fertilizer until mid to late July or when flower buds start to form.
Three Ways to Overwinter Mums in Pots
Keep in mind that the ultimate goal in overwintering your mums in containers is to keep each plants’ roots and stems from feeling harsh freezing temperatures. Nice and cozy, is the plan.
Also, winter care includes deadheading them back BEFORE storing them for winter. Make sure to remove any old and withered flower blooms either before or after you have moved your potted mums so they don’t harbor pests and diseases.
Now, here are three options for overwintering your mums:
1) Move Them Up Against a House/Structure
Move your potted mum up against your house or other building to protect it from the cold weather. This is a great option if mums are hardy in your area (reminder, they are generally hardy in zones 5-9) and can be placed under any available eaves to protect them so they can receive any residual heat from the building.
Water as needed so roots don’t completely dry out; maybe once every two or more weeks, or once a month, especially if you haven’t gotten any natural rain for a while.
2) Heal Them In
Heal-in your potted mum by partially placing each container into a hole of a raised bed or mounding mulch up around the sides of the container. Once you find the location that will work, dig a hole at least half as deep as the container, and place your container in that hole.
Water as needed so roots don’t completely dry out; maybe once every two or more weeks, especially if you haven’t gotten any natural rain for a while.
3) Bring Them Indoors
Move your potted mum indoors and place it on a garage or shed bench so it stays in temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water as needed so roots don’t completely dry out; maybe once every two or more weeks.
How to Easily Overwinter Your Potted Mums
FAQ
How do I overwinter Chrysanthemums?
In mild areas and with well drained soil, most Chrysanthemums should survive outdoors if covered with a mulch of organic material.
When to cut back Chrysanthemums for winter?
For any mum in the garden, mulching can help it to survive the first winter as well as succeeding winters. Cut back the tops of plants after leaves have turned brown each fall.
Do Chrysanthemums come back year after year?
Mums (Chrysanthemums) are considered perennial plants, meaning they can return year after year under the right conditions. However, when grown in pots, their ability to survive the winter and return in subsequent years can be more challenging compared to when they are planted directly in the ground.
How to overwinter chrysanthemums?
It is therefore important to know how to overwinter your Chrysanthemums. The first way to go is to leave your plants outside. The upper part of the plant might get killed by the frost if you live in a cold climate. If this happens, simply cut them back to the ground. Give them some light, airy mulch.
Can You winterize chrysanthemums?
Chrysanthemums grow back bigger and better if you are able to nurture them through the cold season, so following this expert advice on how to winterize mums will be worth it. In USDA zones 8 and above, you can generally leave your plants alone if they’re planted in the ground. In these regions you don’t tend to get an extended freeze.
Can chrysanthemums grow in winter?
If you live in a climate where the temperature doesn’t drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, you can keep potted chrysanthemums where they are, and they should resume growing in the spring. However, in warm-winter climates, the mums can suffer from being too wet during winter.