Keeping Your Mums Alive This Fall
Oct 06, 2025
There’s nothing quite like the burst of color that mums bring to porches, gardens, and front steps in the fall. Their vibrant yellows, oranges, purples, and reds feel like a celebration of the harvest season.
But too often, those pretty pots of mums you buy in September are fading and brittle before Halloween. With a little extra care, though, you can keep your mums thriving well into the season.
The first step is choosing wisely. Garden mums, sometimes called hardy mums, are your best bet if you want them to last. Florist mums, which you often see in grocery stores, are beautiful but more delicate. If you want your blooms to keep shining outdoors, go for hardy mums whenever possible.
Next, pay attention to watering. Mums are thirsty plants, and they don’t like to dry out. Check the soil daily, especially if your mums are in containers. If the top inch feels dry, give them a good drink. Be sure pots have drainage holes — soggy roots are just as harmful as dry ones.
Sunlight is another key. Place your mums where they’ll get at least six hours of sun each day. Morning light is ideal, since it dries dew quickly and keeps mildew from creeping in.
As blooms fade, don’t be afraid to pinch them off. Deadheading not only keeps plants looking fresh but also encourages more buds to open.
And finally, if you’d like your mums to return next year, consider planting them in the ground before the first hard frost. With a little mulch for protection, they can overwinter and surprise you again when autumn rolls around.
With some thoughtful watering, sunshine, and timely trimming, your mums can brighten your fall from the first pumpkin spice latte straight through Thanksgiving.
But too often, those pretty pots of mums you buy in September are fading and brittle before Halloween. With a little extra care, though, you can keep your mums thriving well into the season.
The first step is choosing wisely. Garden mums, sometimes called hardy mums, are your best bet if you want them to last. Florist mums, which you often see in grocery stores, are beautiful but more delicate. If you want your blooms to keep shining outdoors, go for hardy mums whenever possible.
Next, pay attention to watering. Mums are thirsty plants, and they don’t like to dry out. Check the soil daily, especially if your mums are in containers. If the top inch feels dry, give them a good drink. Be sure pots have drainage holes — soggy roots are just as harmful as dry ones.
Sunlight is another key. Place your mums where they’ll get at least six hours of sun each day. Morning light is ideal, since it dries dew quickly and keeps mildew from creeping in.
As blooms fade, don’t be afraid to pinch them off. Deadheading not only keeps plants looking fresh but also encourages more buds to open.
And finally, if you’d like your mums to return next year, consider planting them in the ground before the first hard frost. With a little mulch for protection, they can overwinter and surprise you again when autumn rolls around.
With some thoughtful watering, sunshine, and timely trimming, your mums can brighten your fall from the first pumpkin spice latte straight through Thanksgiving.