Mums, also known as chrysanthemums, are a fall favorite, celebrated for their vibrant colors and ability to brighten up any outdoor space. Knowing How To Take Care Of Mums Outside is essential to ensure they flourish and bring beauty to your garden throughout the season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this guide will provide you with all the necessary steps to keep your outdoor mums healthy and blooming beautifully.
Choosing the Right Mums for Your Outdoor Space
Before diving into care tips, selecting the right mums for your outdoor environment is crucial. When purchasing mums for outdoor planting, opt for varieties specifically labeled for garden use or hardy mums. These are bred to withstand cooler temperatures and return the following year in many climates. Look for plants with numerous buds that are just beginning to open, rather than those in full bloom. This ensures you’ll enjoy a longer blooming period once planted outside. Healthy mums will have deep green foliage and moist soil in their containers.
Alt: Selecting healthy potted mums with abundant buds for outdoor planting, showcasing vibrant green foliage.
Planting Your Mums Outdoors
Once you’ve selected your mums, proper planting is the next key step in how to take care of mums outside. Mums thrive in well-draining soil and require a location that receives ample sunlight.
Sunlight Requirements
Outdoor mums are sun-loving plants and perform best when they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location in your garden that gets full sun for most of the day. While they can tolerate partial shade, too much shade can lead to leggy growth and fewer blooms.
Soil Preparation
Well-draining soil is crucial for healthy outdoor mums. Heavy clay soils can retain too much moisture, leading to root rot. Amend heavy soils with organic matter like compost or peat moss to improve drainage and soil structure. If planting in a garden bed, ensure the soil is loose and fertile. You can incorporate compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting to provide essential nutrients.
Planting Process
When planting mums outdoors, space them about 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for adequate air circulation and root development. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the mum’s root ball and just as deep. Gently remove the mum from its container, loosen any circling roots to encourage outward growth, and place it in the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with the surrounding soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the base of the plant. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
Watering and Feeding Outdoor Mums
Consistent watering and feeding are vital aspects of how to take care of mums outside to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms.
Watering Needs
Mums are thirsty plants, especially when planted outdoors where they are exposed to sun and wind. Water your outdoor mums deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can encourage fungal diseases. During hot and dry periods, you may need to water them daily. Ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogged soil, which can be detrimental.
Fertilizing for Best Blooms
To encourage vigorous growth and prolific flowering, fertilize your outdoor mums regularly. Start fertilizing about a month after planting and continue throughout the growing season until the buds begin to show color. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer, following the package instructions for application rates. Alternatively, you can use a slow-release granular fertilizer at planting time. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
Pruning and Deadheading Outdoor Mums
Proper pruning and deadheading are essential practices in how to take care of mums outside to maintain plant health and encourage continuous blooming.
Deadheading Spent Flowers
Deadheading, or removing faded or wilted flowers, is crucial for prolonging the blooming period of outdoor mums. As blooms fade, they detract from the plant’s appearance and can prevent the development of new flowers. Regularly pinch or cut off spent flowers just below the flower head, encouraging the plant to redirect energy into producing more buds and blooms.
Pruning for Bushier Growth
While mums naturally have a bushy growth habit, light pruning can help maintain a compact shape and encourage more branching. In late spring or early summer, you can pinch back the tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth and more flowers. Avoid pruning heavily in late summer or fall, as this can remove developing flower buds.
Alt: Vibrant red mums blooming outdoors in a garden setting, showcasing healthy foliage and abundant flowers.
Overwintering Outdoor Mums
For those in milder climates, hardy mums can often survive the winter outdoors with proper care. Understanding how to take care of mums outside through winter is key to their return the following year.
Winter Protection
In colder regions, providing winter protection can increase the chances of your outdoor mums surviving. After the first hard frost, cut back the foliage to about 4-6 inches above the soil line. Apply a layer of mulch, such as straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips, around the base of the plants to insulate the roots and protect them from freezing temperatures. The mulch layer should be about 3-4 inches deep.
Spring Care After Winter
In spring, as new growth begins to emerge, gradually remove the mulch. Once the danger of frost has passed, you can remove the mulch entirely. Fertilize your mums in early spring to provide them with a nutrient boost as they start their new growth cycle. Monitor for any signs of pests or diseases and address them promptly.
Pest and Disease Management for Outdoor Mums
While generally resilient, outdoor mums can occasionally be affected by pests and diseases. Knowing how to take care of mums outside includes being vigilant about these issues.
Common Pests
Common pests that may affect outdoor mums include aphids, spider mites, and earwigs. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of infestation, such as sticky residue, webbing, or leaf damage. For minor infestations, you can often dislodge pests with a strong spray of water. For more severe infestations, insecticidal soap or neem oil can be effective organic treatments.
Disease Prevention
Fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and botrytis blight, can occur in mums, especially in humid conditions or when foliage is consistently wet. To prevent diseases, ensure good air circulation around your plants by spacing them adequately and avoiding overcrowding. Water at the base of the plants to keep foliage dry. If diseases do occur, remove affected foliage promptly and consider using a fungicide if necessary, following product instructions carefully.
Extending the Bloom Time of Outdoor Mums
To maximize the colorful display of your outdoor mums, consider these tips on how to take care of mums outside to prolong their blooming period.
Location and Sunlight
Choosing a location that provides morning sun and partial afternoon shade can help extend the bloom time, especially in hotter climates. The partial shade can protect the blooms from intense afternoon heat, preventing them from fading too quickly.
Consistent Watering and Deadheading
Maintaining consistent soil moisture and diligently deadheading spent flowers are key to encouraging continuous blooming. These practices ensure the plant’s energy is directed towards producing new flowers rather than seed production.
Avoid Over-fertilizing
While fertilization is important, avoid over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers, as this can promote leafy growth at the expense of blooms. A balanced fertilizer applied at recommended rates will support healthy blooming.
By following these comprehensive guidelines on how to take care of mums outside, you can ensure your chrysanthemums thrive, providing a stunning display of color and beauty to your outdoor spaces throughout the fall season and beyond. Enjoy the rewarding experience of nurturing these vibrant flowers in your garden.
