Chrysanthemums are a popular fall flower. With rustic colors and hardy blooms, traditionally mums are a major part of decorating late summer gardens and autumn displays.

Pots of mums in every color are clustered throughout stores. You may feel tempted to plant them into your garden for fall, but chances are if you plant them this late in the season, they won’t be able to last through winter. Knowing when to plant mums will help you avoid purchasing multiple plants that may not survive in your garden.

Spring Planting
If you live somewhere in zones 5-9 and want your mums to survive the winter, you should plant them into the ground in the spring. Although you will need to care for your mums with mulching and pinching buds to promote growth, planting mums in the spring allows the roots to establish and gives the plant a better chance of surviving the cold. Many gardeners don’t ask when to plant mums, and their flowers struggle (and usually die) in the cold winter months when they plant them in August or later.

Hardy Garden and Florist Mums
Knowing the difference between hardy (or garden) mums and florist (or cutting) mums is also an important factor in determining which mum will be able to survive the winter. Florist mums, with their diverse range of bloom types, are only able to survive indoors. Only a hardy mum will be able to produce the kind of root system needed for surviving the cold. No amount of protection or care will keep the florist mum alive outside during the winter.

Decorating With Mums
Whether you are planting your garden or just purchasing plants for a autumn display, don’t overdo the color scheme. Both Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living both agree that only two colors of mums should be used to decorate. Also, choose blooms in deep rust or dark burgundy colors for longer lasting beauty, since dying blooms are not as apparent in these colors.

Taking care of your mums will help them bloom longer. Keep the soil moist for mums (not wet) and pinch off dead blooms to encourage new ones to grow. With proper care your flowers will stay bushy and vibrant well into fall.