FEATURESTORY
By Mike McGroarty
Mums Can Last More than one Season
D
id you know that mums (chrysanthe-
mums) don’t have to only last one sea-
son? With a little work, your hardy mums
can survive the winter!
A very important part of winterizing your mums
begins when you plant them. Make sure that the soil
drains well so puddled water doesn’t form ice on the
roots! It’s not the cold temperatures, but usually ice
on the roots that kills your mums. After a few hard
frosts, the leaves on your plant will turn brown and
die, so now is the time to cut them back to about 3-4
inches. But be careful, if you cut it too far back, less
fresh stems will grow back in the spring.
After the ground freezes, you will want to cover
the plants with leaves and mulch. Make sure to use a
nice heavy layer to help keep the ground from thaw-
ing out and re-freezing, which is not good for the
plant.
Your other option is to pull the plants before
the first freeze making sure to remove any dirt and
bugs from the roots. At this some gardeners will also
use a disinfectant or a hot water dip to control eel-
worm. The recommended treatment is five minutes in
water at 46°C (114°F). After this, dry the stools thor-
oughly, trim the roots to about 15cm (6”) in length
and then box them in seed trays using an open com-
post. Store them in an airy place (a cold greenhouse
is fine) and keep the compost dry. Plants grown in
September 2018
pots can be moved into a cold greenhouse or some
other sheltered place and, as above, make sure to
keep them dry.
In the early spring, start watering them to encour-
age growth. Remember to wait until the danger of
frost has passed before moving the Chrysanthemums
outside in the spring. GG
Mike McGroarty is the owner of McGroarty Enterprises and the
author of several books. You can visit his website at Freeplants.
com and read his blog at Mikesbackyardnursery.com.
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