The News Tribune

Garden mums are starting to appear in local nurseries, offering fresh color for containers and garden beds as summer bloomers are winding down.

Basic bio Garden mums are hardy chrysanthemums that are easy to grow in the landscape – distinguished from “disbuds,” which produce larger, show-quality flowers (gardeners remove some buds so the remaining ones produce bigger blooms).

Flowering time Chrysanthemums bloom in earnest in August and September; a mum blooming now may flower for four to six weeks – sometimes longer, depending on the variety. Early varieties can begin flowering in July, while some mums will bloom into October or November. Deadheading may bring on additional flowers. Late-blooming varieties do better here if they’re kept in a protected area, like a porch.

Buy bigger Chrysanthemums purchased in late summer typically have experienced all their growth for the year; for more visual impact, buy plants in larger pots. Check more than one retailer for a wider selection of colors and flower shapes.

Fall annuals Spring is optimum planting time for mums; those planted in the fall don’t always develop strong root structures before going dormant. That means they may not survive our cold, wet winter. Treating them as fall annuals can avoid disappointment; if they make it through the winter, consider it a bonus.

Survival strategies To increase the possibility of a winter survival, plant mums in a well-drained area or raised bed and mulch them in late fall. Some gardeners cut back the stems; others say leave them for extra protection. Mums can also be planted in pots and kept in a protected area.

Store them Another option is digging up the plants after flowering and storing them for the winter. Leave just a little soil on the plants, and place them in a shallow box or container in an unheated, protected area. Sprinkle a little water on them if they start getting really dried out. When shoots begin appearing in spring, break off pieces with a root attached and plant them in the garden after danger of frost is past (around mid-May). Jean Parietti is a Federal Way freelance writer. E-mail her at southsoundgarden@aol.com.