Fall in the Ozarks isn’t complete without a porch full of mums. They’re like pumpkins with petals; they’re festive, colorful, and a little needy if you don’t know their quirks. The good news? With a bit of attention (and a sense of humor), your mums can stay lush through fall and, if you play your cards right, come back for an encore next year.
Deadheading: A Little Off the Top, Please
If you want a longer show, you’ve got to keep the stage tidy. Deadhead your mums every few days, snipping off the blooms that have gone from “wow” to “ugh.” Cut back to the next set of leaves or a branching stem. During peak bloom, you might be out there every two to three days. Think of it as plant grooming: less shaggy hair, more fresh blossoms.
Water Wisdom: Rain Is Not Always Enough
Mums are shallow-rooted divas. They need steady moisture, but not a swamp. Here’s the trick: don’t let the weather do all the thinking for you. A light shower may wet the surface and leave roots bone dry. Stick a finger an inch or two into the soil — if it feels dry, water. If it feels damp, take the day off.
In the cooler 60s and 70s, mums in the ground usually get by on a deep soak once a week. Potted mums drop from “every day” to “every couple of days.” And always water in the morning at the base, not over the top as wet flowers are short-lived flowers.
Shelter From the Storm
(and the Porch Light)
Heavy rain and wind can knock mums around faster than a Friday night football crowd. Give them a little roof over their heads when storms roll in. Containers can be slid under an eave, porch roof, or carport — anywhere that keeps blooms dry while roots stay moist. In-ground mums? They’re staying put, but you can shield them with a bit of frost cloth or even a tipped lawn chair. (Gardeners are nothing if not resourceful.)
And while we’re at it: check your yard lights. Mums are short-day plants, which means they bloom best as nights get longer. A bright security light shining on them all night can confuse their schedule and leave you with more leaves than flowers.
A Little Porch Project of My Own
I’ll admit it: I jumped on the mums bandwagon myself this year. I found two terracotta Halloween jack-o-lantern “paper sacks” and couldn’t resist. After drilling holes in the bottoms, I tucked in two small mums from 3-inch pots, then filled around them with a good soil mix (potting soil, perlite, and pine bark for drainage). They’ve been blooming happily on my porch ever since. Now I’ll be using these same tips (deadheading, careful watering, and a little shelter under the eave) to keep them flowering as long as possible, and hopefully, with luck and mulch, overwinter them for next fall.
Prepping for the Cold Shoulder
When the frosts start sneaking in, it’s time for a mulch makeover. Pile 2–3 inches of shredded leaves, straw, or bark around the base of in-ground mums. Think of it as tucking them in with a blanket. Don’t cut them back just yet (those crispy stems act like insulation, and you’ll trim them down in spring when new shoots show up.)
Keeping Mums for Next Year (Yes, It’s Possible)
Most folks treat mums as seasonal color, or a one-and-done. But hardy garden mums can actually stick around if you treat them right:
• Spring planting: best survival odds. Fall planting is trickier, but not impossible.
• Mulch like crazy. Three or four inches before the first hard frost.
• Leave the top growth. Brown stems might look ugly, but they’re cozy. Cut them back in spring.
• Drainage over warmth. Cold, soggy soil is the true villain here.
• Divide in spring. By year two or three, dig up the clump and replant the younger, greener shoots for bushier plants.
• Containers need coddling. Either plant them in the ground before the soil freezes, or move the pot to a cold but sheltered spot like a garage. Water sparingly, just enough to keep soil from turning into dust.
Quick Porch-Side Checklist
• Deadhead every few days to keep flowers rolling.
• Water deeply when soil is dry an inch down — rain doesn’t always cut it.
• Shift pots under cover during storms; blooms hate being drenched.
• Mulch and leave stems for winter protection.
• Consider tucking hardy mums into the ground if you want to see them again next fall.
