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Tips for Transplanting Hardy Fall Mums from the Greenhouse

October 6th, 2008 by Greenthumb

The colorful, abundant blooms of Hardy Mums usher in fall year after year. These popular hardy flowers are greenhouse favorites because they are easy to propagate. Caring for hardy mums in the fall, and throughout the year, requires a little special knowledge of these lovely plants.

Caring for Hardy Mums

If you decide to transplant your mums outside, you will need to prepare them for the harsh winter weather. Your mums will need a thick layer of mulch to survive the winter. Any organic material is adequate as long as it helps hold in moisture. Mums require large amounts of moisture and frequent watering.

Tips for caring for Mums in the Fall

  • Mulching your mums will also help keep weeds from stealing nutrients and choking out new growth.
  • Mulching thickly for winter helps keep the plant warmer and will protect the shallow roots from frost damage.
  • If you purchase potted mums from a retailer, be sure to transplant them into the ground as soon as possible for best results.
  • Pinch off any dying blooms, and water the base of the plant well.
  • Break off stray shoots and shorten new growth to encourage a well-rounded plant. Hardy mums can grow into large bushes if cared for properly!
  • To produce larger blooms, limit the amount of blossoms on each stalk by pinching off all but one or two blooms.
  • Mums do not root deeply. Therefore they must be planted in well-draining soil. You will also need to monitor rainfall and supplement newly planted mums with 2-3 waterings per week when necessary.
  • Plant your Hardy Mums in a part of the yard that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.

    Planning for Spring
    In the spring, your hardy mums will push up fast-growing green shoots. You can transplant these to a new area, or bring them back into the greenhouse for intensive care. Break off the woody, dead growth from the previous season and treat plants to a liquid fertilizer before mulching for the summer.
    Hardy mums respond well to compost and organic mulching. They also are naturally resistant to insect infestations and garden pests. Hardy mums come in a variety of colors- yellow, pink, red, copper, orange, purple and white. You can even choose from early, mid-season, or late blooming varieties.

    Caring for Hardy Mums is truly a labor of love for many greenhouse gardeners. They are rewarded with vibrant, colorful, abundant blooms long after other summer flowers have gone to seed. These tips can help you grow your best Hardy Mum crops yet.

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