Dr. Grow: Fall mums: plant chrysanthemums early in fall for best results

Mums grow best if they are planted before they bloom so they can establish their root systems.

Mums in bloom are also available.

For today's column, I was originally going to write about the non-invasion of an insect that doesn't have a population in the Heartland, an insect that everyone is so concerned about. Unfortunately, I have to put that subject off for a few weeks because my friend Larry was unable to find a specimen for the subject insect, one that doesn't live here, on such short notice.

Actually Larry had three weeks notice to get the specimen. He just didn't know it. We played phone tag for the last month. During this long, drawn-out session of tag, we forgot who was it. Therefore, the specimen was not obtained. Because no picture could be taken of a specimen that we didn't have, from a population that is non-existent in this area, I had to come up with a different idea for this week's column. Now how's that for an introduction to a column that I am not going to write about?

I've been watching the weather reports lately, while playing tag and am simply amazed at how mild these August days have been. The cool mornings are absolutely invigorating. In fact, they have been so cool that I feel just a twinge of fall in the air. Because fall always reminds me of mums, I now have a subject to write about. Doesn't the mind work in mysterious ways?

I have talked to garden center owners quite often about selling mums. To a fault, they say the peak sales period for mums is the end of September and the beginning of October. These perennial beauties are naturally full bloom at that time. In garden center circles, an old adage says that blooms sell.

Most gardeners buy mums with the idea that they will plant them in the fall when they are in full bloom. Because mums are perennials, these gardeners assume they will see blooms each and every fall from then on out. Unfortunately, if gardeners buy their mums in October and plant them at that time, the results next spring are often disappointing.

If you want to be assured that mums planted in the fall will survive the winter and then adorn your garden next fall, start by planting mums early. Buy your mums before they are blooming. If you're concern about matching colors, use the color tag in the pot. It may not be a perfect match, but it will be close.

Plant your mums as soon as possible in the fall. Now is not too soon. These newly planted mums need time to establish their root systems in the new soil before winter if they are going to survive.

When planting mums, work peat moss into the clay soils that we have in the Heartland. A good ratio is one-third peat to two-thirds soil. Place three inches of peat over the planting bed if you are going to work your bed 6 inches deep. Either till in the peat or turn it in with a spade three or four times.

Next remove the mums from the container they are growing in. Free the root ends by washing the root wad with a jet of water. This jet will wash away some of the soil the roots are embedded in, thus leaving a lot of free roots exposed.

Now plant the mum in the prepared planting bed. These free roots will be teased into the new soil and will tend to establish faster. If the mum roots are not washed, they will continue to grow in the same configuration as they were in the pots. The results will be little root growth into the new soil.

After planting, be sure to water the plants with a solution of root stimulator. This combination of starter fertilizer and rooting hormones will enhance root production so that the mum will become established rapidly after transplanting. By watering the newly planted mum, air pockets in the soil are eliminated. Good root-soil contact is a must for establishment.

Water the newly planted mums as needed during the rest of the fall. Stick your finger into the soil near the root wad. If the soil is dry, water the plant. If the soil is moist no watering is needed.

If you want to be sure mums planted in the fall planted get established, plant them early. Use proper planting methods to enhance the chances of survival. Now sit back and enjoy your mums for years to come.