Whether mums come back every year depends on the type you bought and when you planted them. Garden mums bred for outdoor life can return each spring for years. Florist mums from grocery store pots almost never make it through winter. The difference between these two types is huge.
I learned this during my first fall as a homeowner. I grabbed six blooming mums from a big-box store in October and stuck them in the ground along my walkway. Not one came back the next spring. The next year I bought perennial mums from a local nursery in May. I planted them in well-drained soil and gave them all summer to grow roots. Those same plants have come back for four straight years now with bigger blooms each time.
The reason comes down to what happens below the dirt. Hardy garden mums grow stolons, which are stems that spread under the soil and store energy for winter. These stolons work like a battery that keeps your plant alive when everything above ground dies back. Florist mums put all their energy into big showy flowers instead. They grow few or no stolons at all, so they have nothing left to survive the cold.
Your hardiness zone matters too. Clemson Extension says garden mums survive in USDA Zones 5a through 9b with proper care. Penn State warns that fall mums bought in full bloom often die over winter. The plant used all its energy on flowers instead of roots. You should plant your mums in spring so they get a full season to build strong roots and stolons before frost hits.
Perennial mums need a few things to survive winter. Full sun and well-drained soil top the list. Sitting in wet dirt during freeze-thaw cycles kills more mums than cold air does. Good drainage stops ice from forming around the crown and rotting out your plant before spring arrives. Pick a spot where water never puddles after rain.
Your hardy garden mums winter care should include a simple mulch routine. After the ground freezes hard in late fall, spread 4 to 6 inches of straw or shredded leaves over each clump. This layer keeps the soil at a steady temperature and stops freeze-thaw cycles from heaving your plants out of the ground. Leave the dead stems standing through winter. They trap mulch in place and shield the crown from harsh wind.
Pull back the mulch in early spring once you spot new green shoots pushing through. Cut the old dead stems to about an inch above the soil and let fresh growth take over. You can also divide your clumps every few years to keep them strong and full of blooms.
The right variety, spring planting, good drainage, and a thick layer of mulch are all you need. Follow these steps and your mums will reward you with fall color year after year. Stop buying new pots every October and start growing mums that stick around for the long haul.
Read the full article: Mum Flower: Types, Care, and Seasonal Tips
