Potted chrysanthemums perched on porches are too often kicked to the curb with decaying jack-o'-lanterns. This ritual carnage is unnecessary.
Signs of autumn are most apparent in colder climates, where fall foliage sets the landscape ablaze. But regardless of your location, chances are there's one familiar seasonal sight each year: potted chrysanthemums perched on porches, hanging in baskets, temporarily planted into borders.Curious and frankly disturbed about the ritual carnage, I asked a few of my Long Island, New York, neighbors why they discard their mums. The universal response? They believed them to be annuals.
There are, indeed, annual chrysanthemums, but they are primarily used in the florist trade or sold as potted gift plants, typically in stores like supermarkets, as opposed to nurseries. Still, check the plant tag to know what you're getting. The garden-variety perennials will be labeled chrysanthemum morifolium; annuals belong to the Chrysanthemum multicaule species.
Consider using the plants alongside sedums, asters and goldenrods for a colorful seasonal display in the center of your garden bed. Allow sufficient space between plants to prevent crowding, which can lead to mold, mildew and fungal diseases. If plants become overgrown, divide them in spring, just after new growth appears. It's a great way to make free plants.
Allow dormant plants to stand in the garden over the winter; the above-ground plant matter, although dry, will help to further insulate roots. Cut them back in spring after new growth emerges.