Misconception of planting mums this fall

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Mums come in a wide variety of colors that perfectly complement the fall season, but if you aren’t careful your mums might not make it through the winter.

Chrysanthemums, more widely known as mums, are perennial plants. This means they can last multiple years with the right care. You’ll have to water regularly if our mainly dry conditions continue through fall.

Steven Bordenuk with Sixteen Acres Garden Center puts down one misconception about planting mums, “People think that they’re perennial and that they’ll come back every year, but basically it depends on the winter. We have a really cold winter, they will not come back. The reason why they call them hardy is because they’ll take cooler weather in the fall as opposed to an annual.”

Mums still need to be cared for despite the favorable weather. A few tips to keep note of are:

1. Give them enough sunlight since the sunshine isn’t as intense
2. Water them appropriately
3. Make sure the pot has appropriate drainage so the soil isn’t too soggy
4. In the event of frost, it’s best to cover all outdoor plants with a thin sheet.

Yelp has created a list of the best places to get mums in western Massachusetts:

1. Randall’s Farm in Ludlow
2. North Hadley Sugar Shack in Hadley
3. Atkins Farms in Amherst
4. Dickinson Farm & Greenhouse in Granby
5. Calabrese Farms in Southwick

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