Mum FAQ
Garden Mums
Q. Are these mums hardy?
A. Yes, all of the fall mums Esbenshade’s carries are winter hardy. However, many factors play a role in the winter survivability of mums, including: the harshness of the winter, how exposed the mums are to winter winds, how well the mums can establish their root system before the ground freezes and even the variety of the mum itself.
Q. How long will the mums bloom?
A. On average, mums will provide good flower color for 4-6 weeks once flowers begin to open. Bloom time is effected by temperature; mums will bloom out faster in warmer weather.
Q. How do I care for my mums?
A. If you plan to leave them in a pot as fall decor, make sure the mums remain moist, but never soggy wet. No fertilizer is required as the mums are fully grown and do not need it this year any more. Mums will perform best in full sun, but can tolerate shady areas if they are just to be used for decoration. If you'll be planting them in the ground as a perennial, select a well drained location as water-logged roots in winter will kill the plant. Choose a full sun location (min. of 6 hrs of direct sun a day) and apply a low nitrogen fertilizer in the spring (such as Espoma Plant-tone). Esbenshade’s sells Belgian mum varieties, which are self-branching varieties that do not require pinching to produce full, compact plants. If you prefer to pinch your mums to delay flowering, July 4th is the last recommended date to allow for bud development for fall.
A. Yes, all of the fall mums Esbenshade’s carries are winter hardy. However, many factors play a role in the winter survivability of mums, including: the harshness of the winter, how exposed the mums are to winter winds, how well the mums can establish their root system before the ground freezes and even the variety of the mum itself.
Q. How long will the mums bloom?
A. On average, mums will provide good flower color for 4-6 weeks once flowers begin to open. Bloom time is effected by temperature; mums will bloom out faster in warmer weather.
Q. How do I care for my mums?
A. If you plan to leave them in a pot as fall decor, make sure the mums remain moist, but never soggy wet. No fertilizer is required as the mums are fully grown and do not need it this year any more. Mums will perform best in full sun, but can tolerate shady areas if they are just to be used for decoration. If you'll be planting them in the ground as a perennial, select a well drained location as water-logged roots in winter will kill the plant. Choose a full sun location (min. of 6 hrs of direct sun a day) and apply a low nitrogen fertilizer in the spring (such as Espoma Plant-tone). Esbenshade’s sells Belgian mum varieties, which are self-branching varieties that do not require pinching to produce full, compact plants. If you prefer to pinch your mums to delay flowering, July 4th is the last recommended date to allow for bud development for fall.
Q. Do I need to do anything special when I plant my mums to ensure they survive the winter?
A. Esbenshade’s recommends using transplant root stimulator at planting to help quickly establish a root system to increase survivability. Also, make sure the location you choose for planting does not remain overly wet in the winter as this can quickly rot the roots. Finally, do not trim the dead stems of the mum back before spring. They will help to insulate the plants by trapping leaves and snow.
A. Esbenshade’s recommends using transplant root stimulator at planting to help quickly establish a root system to increase survivability. Also, make sure the location you choose for planting does not remain overly wet in the winter as this can quickly rot the roots. Finally, do not trim the dead stems of the mum back before spring. They will help to insulate the plants by trapping leaves and snow.