As summer fades, your garden doesn’t have to. Landscaping with mums creates vibrant fall garden displays that bring back color and life. These hardy flowers are the superstars of autumn, offering a huge range of hues to warm up the cooling days. With a little planning, you can use them to make your yard look amazing from September right through until the first hard frost.
This guide gives you clear, step-by-step advice. We’ll cover how to choose the best mums, where to plant them, and how to care for them. You’ll learn design tips to combine them with other fall plants for a truly stunning effect. Let’s get started.
Landscaping With Mums – Vibrant Fall Garden Displays
This main idea is about using mums as a core part of your garden design, not just as potted afterthoughts. When you think of them as seasonal landscaping plants, you open up a world of possibilities. They provide structure, mass, and incredible color at a time when many other plants are starting to decline.
Choosing the Right Mums for Your Landscape
Not all mums are the same. Picking the right type is the first step to success. You’ll see two main categories at the garden center, and knowing the difference is key.
- Florist Mums (Annuals): These are often sold in full bloom in tight pots. They are bred for a single, spectacular show. While sometimes they can survive winter, they are typically treated as one-season wonders.
- Garden or Hardy Mums (Perennials): These are the ones you want for landscaping. They are planted in spring or early summer, which gives their roots time to establish. This makes them much more likely to come back year after year, getting bigger and better.
When selecting plants, look for ones with lots of buds that are just starting to show color, rather than ones in full, finished bloom. This ensures you get the longest display in your garden. Also check for healthy green foliage and no signs of pests on the leaves.
Design Ideas for Using Mums in Your Garden
Think beyond the front porch pot. Mums are incredibly versatile in landscape design. Here are some effective ways to use them.
- Mass Plantings: For major impact, plant groups of the same mum color together. A large swath of burgundy, gold, or pure white creates a bold statement that can define a garden bed or line a pathway.
- Border Edging: Use low, cushion-type mums to create a colorful edge along a walkway or driveway. They provide a neat, flowering border that lasts for weeks.
- Container Combinations: Mums are the “thriller” or “filler” in fall containers. Pair them with ornamental grasses, trailing ivy, or even small kale for texture and contrast. Remember to water pots frequently, as they dry out fast.
- Complementary Beds: Integrate mums among your existing perennials. They can fill in gaps left by early-summer bloomers and look fantastic next to sedum, asters, and ornamental grasses.
Color Coordination is Key
The classic autumn palette of rust, gold, and deep red is always a winner. But don’t be afraid to experiment. White mums can brighten a shady corner and make other colors pop. Soft pink and lavender mums can create a more subtle, elegant look. Consider the color of your house siding or front door when making your choices for foundation plantings.
Step-by-Step: Planting Your Mums for Success
Proper planting makes all the difference, especially if you want them to return. Follow these steps.
- Timing: For perennial performance, plant hardy mums in the spring. This gives them a full season to grow roots. If you plant in fall, treat them as annuals unless you get them in the ground very early.
- Location: Mums need full sun to bloom their best—at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. They also require well-drained soil. Soggy roots will rot over winter.
- Digging the Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper. Loosen the soil around the hole to help roots spread easily.
- Planting: Gently remove the plant from its pot. If the roots are tightly wound, tease them apart slightly. Place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with the original soil.
- Watering In: Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first few weeks.
- Spacing: Follow the spacing recommendation on the plant tag. Crowding leads to poor air circulation and potential disease.
Caring for Your Mum Displays
A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your mums lush and floriferous from late summer through fall.
- Watering: Mums have shallow roots. Water them deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, especially during dry spells and when they are in bloom. Avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry.
- Pinching for Bushiness: To prevent tall, leggy plants that flop over, pinch back the growing tips in late spring and early summer. Simply use your fingers to remove the top inch of growth. Stop pinching around mid-July so flower buds have time to form.
- Fertilizing: Feed mums in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. You can give them another light feeding when you see buds forming. Avoid fertilizing in late fall, as this can encourage tender new growth that winter will kill.
- Deadheading: As flowers fade, snip them off. This neatens the plant and may encourage a few more side blooms. It also directs energy back into the plant instead of seed production.
Preparing Mums for Winter
Helping your hardy mums survive the cold is simple. The key is to protect their roots and crown from freezing and thawing cycles.
- After the foliage is killed back by a hard frost, cut the stems down to about 2 inches above the ground.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch (like straw, shredded leaves, or pine needles) over the stump. This insulates the soil and prevents the plant from heaving out of the ground during winter thaws.
- In early spring, gently remove the mulch as new growth begins to appear.
Sometimes, even with good care, an older mum’s center dies out. In spring, you can dig it up, divide the healthy outer shoots, and replant them to rejuvenate the clump.
Great Companion Plants for Fall
Mums shine even brighter with the right partners. Combine them with other plants that peak in autumn for a layered, professional look.
- Ornamental Grasses: The feathery plumes of fountain grass or miscanthus add movement and a soft backdrop.
- Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’: Its flat, pink flower heads that turn to rust complement mum colors perfectly and attract butterflies.
- Fall Asters: Their daisy-like flowers in purple, blue, and white bloom at the same time, creating beautiful contrasts.
- Ornamental Peppers & Kale: For added foliage interest, the bright fruits and colorful, ruffled leaves make great textural companions in beds or containers.
- Pansies: For a ground-level pop, tuck winter-hardy pansies around your mum clumps. They can often survive winter and bloom again in early spring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How often should I water my mums?
Water deeply when the top inch of soil is dry. Potted mums need water almost daily, especially if they’re in full sun. In-ground plants are more drought tolerant but perform best with consistent moisture.
Can I plant potted mums in the ground in October?
You can, but their main purpose will be for that season’s color. For them to have a good chance of surviving winter, they need several weeks to establish roots before the ground freezes, which is often unlikely with a late planting.
Why are my mums tall and floppy?
This is usually due to a lack of pinching. Next year, start pinching back the stems in late spring to encourage a bushier, sturdier shape. They also might be in too much shade, which causes them to stretch for light.
What do I do with mums after they bloom?
For hardy varieties, cut them back after frost and mulch them. For florist mums treated as annuals, you can compost the plants after they finish.
Do deer eat mums?
Mums are generally considered deer-resistant, as their aromatic foliage is not a favorite. However, a very hungry deer might sample them, especially the flowers.
Landscaping with mums is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to celebrate the fall season. By choosing the right plants, placing them thoughtfully, and giving them simple care, you can create a welcoming autumn haven right outside your door. The burst of color they provide is a joyful way to extend your garden’s beauty deep into the year.