For the Fall season in Georgia, I’ve decided to go with baskets of mums to spruce up my deck. (Don’t worry—I’m still gardening, just in a more low-maintenance way.) Fortunately, there’s a local discount grower nearby that offers a great selection of healthy, affordable mums. Mums are actually the common name for *Chrysanthemums*, one of the most popular flowering plants in gardens across the country. Here are my top tips to help your mums last longer and look their best:
1. **Choose baskets with mostly buds, not open flowers.** They might not look impressive at first, but they’ll bloom beautifully within a short time.
2. **Water every other day**, making sure the soil stays consistently moist—but never soggy.
3. **Water at the base**, not from above, to prevent leaf diseases and keep the roots hydrated.
4. **Try the dunking method** once a week (or as needed). Fill a large container with water, submerge the basket until no more bubbles rise, then let it drain. This ensures deep watering without overdoing it.
5. **Deadhead regularly**—cut off faded blooms twice a week. This encourages new growth and extends the blooming period. Make it a habit!
Many people don’t realize that mums can be saved for the next year if you’re willing to put in a little extra work. Once the blooming is done, plant them in the ground and cut them back to about 1 inch above the soil. Treat them like any other garden plant, and they’ll come back strong next fall.
As we head into late fall and early winter in Georgia, I’ll be swapping out my store-bought mums for fresh violas, pansies, and some ornamental cabbage in containers. Winter color is definitely a topic for another post, though!
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Karen is a regular reviewer and blogger for *Day Undefined*. In her series, *"Karen's Corner,"* she shares her passion for gardening and other hobbies, offering practical tips to make them more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
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