Can I Plant My Potted Mums?

Do you have a beautiful potted mum and wonder if you can plant it in your garden? The answer is yes, you can plant your potted mums in your garden. However, the process is a bit different from planting mums from seeds or cuttings. In this article, we'll discuss how to plant your potted mums in the ground.

Choose the Right Location

Choose a spot in your garden that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. Mums grow best in well-drained soil. If your soil is clay-like and doesn't drain well, consider mixing in compost or sand to improve drainage. If your soil is acidic, add lime to raise the pH level to 6.5 to 7.0, which is ideal for mums.

Transplant Your Potted Mum

The best time to transplant your potted mum is after it has finished blooming. This is usually in late fall or early winter when the plant is in dormancy. To transplant, dig a hole in your prepared garden bed that's twice the size of the root ball of your potted mum. Remove your mums from their pot and loosen the roots gently by running your fingers through the soil. Place the mum into the hole and fill with soil. Tamp the soil down around the roots to remove air pockets.

Water Your Transplanted Mums

Water your transplanted mums well to help them settle into their new home. Water deeply but make sure to let the soil dry down slightly between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which will kill your mums. Keep an eye on your newly planted mums and water them as needed. Once established, mums are drought-tolerant and don't require frequent watering.

Maintain Your Mums

Keep your mums healthy by removing spent blooms as soon as they fade. Deadheading will encourage your mums to produce more blooms. You can also pinch back the tips of your mums in early summer. This will promote bushier growth and more blooms. In fall, apply a slow-release fertilizer to help your mums get through the winter.

In Conclusion

If you're wondering if you can plant your potted mums in your garden, the answer is yes. Just make sure to choose the right location, transplant your mum properly, water it as needed, and maintain it throughout the year. Your mums will provide beautiful blooms and color to your garden in the fall.