What is the difference between a mum and a hardy mum

So, when choosing a planting spot, be sure to situate these plants at least 20 feet from street lights or any other night lights to avoid lengthening the daylight hours.

Mums are usually shallow-rooted and prefer well-drained, fertile soil with a slightly acidic pH, about 5. They do poorly in wet, mucky locations, which results in fewer flowers and unhealthy plant growth.

Set the plants about 18 to 24 inches apart, so they can grow freely into the large mound they are so famous for. Provide a regular, balanced fertilizer in spring and summer, something like , recommends Fine Gardening. Water regularly and deeply. Most importantly, pinch back their stems in spring and summer to force new lateral growth and a bushier plant. Plants that are not pinched in this way will bloom but will have a looser structure and fewer flowers. Pop them in a pot with almost any soil, and be sure to water them.

Because they will be so short-lived, they need no fertilizer or any special care, and they will put on their stunning display for two or more weeks. If you are growing garden mums instead, container planting is still possible, but the plants will face the same growing hurdles as any container-grown plant. Perennial mums, on the other hand, should be planted directly into your garden bed in the spring.

However, they do require more maintenance throughout the summer. Water well throughout the growing season. This encourages them to grow fuller and bushier, and flower later into the season. Like annual mums, perennial mums benefit from deadheading. Removing the old flowers will encourage them to keep blooming.

Mums may be trimmed back in the fall, but you should wait until the foliage has turned brown and still leave about six inches of plant standing.

Chrysanthemums, also called mums for short, are the one flower you need to plant this fall. With rich, saturated colors and gorgeous forms ranging from tiny buttons to big, lavish flower heads, they're a sure sign that autumn has arrived. Plus, they're available in every shade of the rainbow, don't mind a little cold and start the show just about the time when the rest of your garden is looking sad and wilted.

Even better, mums have few pests, and rodents and deer typically don't bother them due to their fragrant translation: not tasty foliage. But if you've ever planted mums in hopes they'd return next year and were disappointed not to see them pop up again in the spring, here's why: Mums are perennials, but only if you get them in the ground early in the growing season, If you're not sure about the differences between annuals versus perennials, read more here.

The truth is that if you wait until fall to plant chrysanthemums in your garden—when you see them everywhere at garden centers and nurseries-- they don't have enough time to get established before cold weather sets in. However, if you plant them earlier in the season preferably spring , they will have a chance to get settled so that they can come back. There are garden mums, also called hardy mums, and florist mums.

Garden mums thrive in zones 4 to 9, while florist mums—like the ones you find at grocery store in gift pots—are only hardy to USDA Hardiness zones 7 to 9 find your zone here. It depends on when you plant them. You may get lucky if you plant them early in the fall and if you choose plants in tight bud, rather than plants in full bloom.

You'll also have better luck with fall planting in warm climates. For anywhere else in the country, plant in the spring if you want them to return every year. If your mums start to outgrow their place in your garden or get overcrowded by other perennials, you can divide them in the spring. Cut off a chunk make sure you're getting some roots!

Keep them watered as the new plant gets established.