Can You Plant Mums In The Ground And Will They Stay Green Until The Bloom The Following Year And How Do You Cut Them Back

Question

i think mums are a beautiful flower and I would like to plant them

Answer 1

Down here in Texas, the part of the plant above the soil dries out throughout our mild winters although it may remain green when we have unusually mild winters. If winter zaps the growth above the soil, I cut it a few inches off the ground, I mulch (3-4") it past the drip line and it regrows in spring. Provide some water during dry winters if the soil has not frozen, specially in year 1 if planted outside.

The only problem that I can think of right now is that it is a tad late for planting outside in November in Camp Hill as your average date of first frost is usually around the 3rd/4th week in October and we are now in November. Feel free to try planting now if you want to risk it or better yet, grow it potted inside during winter and plant it in spring 2022 (May). Place the plant in a pot in a southern exposure to get some sunlight. Water when a finger inserted into the potting soil starts to feel dry. Water less often if the growth above the soil dries out. Keep potted plants away from cold windows (touching) or from hot/cold air vents. Do not panic if the plant loses foliage during the short days of fall & winter and then you bring it inside where it may get slightly less sunlight. Plant it outside in spring after Camp Hill's average date of last frost (around the 1st/2nd week of May). I currently have a potted mum that I received in October and am planning to plant it outside shortly but, I can do so here because of my usually milder winters. I have planted regular mums and spider mums outside in Texas after my average date of last frost in spring or a few months before my average date of first frost.

Here is more info from Penn State regarding mums in PA: https://extension.psu.edu/chrysanthemums