Mums are the stars of Missouri fall gardens, but keeping them lush can be tricky. I’ve learned a few simple things that help mine stay full and vibrant long after Halloween.
With the right care, they’ll keep those beautiful blooms going strong. Here are nine tricks that’ll keep your mums looking fresh through the season.
1. Water Early in the Morning
Early morning watering gives your mums the moisture they need before Missouri’s warm fall afternoons hit. When you water before 10 a.m., the leaves have time to dry completely, which prevents fungal diseases that cause brown, crispy edges.
Wet leaves sitting in cool evening air create the perfect environment for problems. Aim the water at the soil around the base rather than spraying the whole plant.
Your mums will soak up what they need during the day without staying soggy overnight.
2. Choose the Right Planting Spot
Location makes all the difference when growing mums in Missouri. While these flowers love sunshine, too much intense afternoon heat can scorch their leaves and turn them crispy fast.
A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade works perfectly, giving plants the light they need without the brutal heat. If you’re keeping mums in pots, you can easily move them to shadier areas during particularly hot days.
Pay attention to wind exposure too, since constant breezes dry out leaves quickly.
3. Add a Layer of Mulch
Spreading two to three inches of mulch around your mums helps Missouri soil stay moist longer between waterings. Organic mulch like shredded bark or compost works best because it also adds nutrients as it breaks down.
Keep the mulch about an inch away from the stems to prevent rot issues. This simple trick reduces how often you need to water while protecting roots from temperature swings.
Your mums stay hydrated, and those leaves remain plump and colorful instead of dry and brown.
4. Deadhead Spent Blooms Regularly
Removing faded flowers might seem like just a cosmetic fix, but it actually helps your mums stay healthier throughout fall in Missouri. When you pinch off dead blooms, the plant stops wasting energy on making seeds and instead focuses on keeping existing leaves and flowers fresh.
Grab the spent flower right below the bloom and snap it off gently. Check your plants every few days for flowers that are browning or wilting.
This quick maintenance keeps mums looking their best for weeks longer.
5. Feed with Balanced Fertilizer
Did you know mums are heavy feeders that need regular nutrition to keep blooming without crispy leaves? A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied every two weeks gives Missouri mums the nutrients they crave during their peak season.
Look for formulas with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Mix according to package directions and water it into the soil around your plants.
Well-fed mums develop stronger cell walls in their leaves, making them more resistant to drying out and turning brown at the edges.
6. Check Soil Moisture Daily
Mums can go from perfectly hydrated to bone-dry surprisingly fast during Missouri’s unpredictable fall weather. Stick your finger about two inches into the soil near your plants each day to feel if it’s moist or dry.
If it feels dry at that depth, it’s time to water deeply. Container mums especially need this daily check since pots dry out much faster than garden beds.
Consistent moisture prevents those dreaded crispy leaves while keeping flowers bright and perky through October and beyond.
7. Protect from Hot Afternoon Sun
Missouri can surprise you with warm September and October afternoons that stress your mums and dry out their leaves. Creating some temporary shade during the hottest part of the day makes a huge difference in plant health.
Use shade cloth, a patio umbrella, or even position potted mums near taller plants that cast afternoon shadows. Just a few hours of relief from intense sun helps prevent leaf scorch.
Your mums will reward this simple protection with lush, green foliage instead of brown, crispy edges.
8. Avoid Overhead Watering
Spraying water all over your mums might seem like the easiest approach, but it’s actually a recipe for crispy, diseased leaves in Missouri’s humid fall climate. Water droplets sitting on foliage act like tiny magnifying glasses, concentrating sunlight and burning leaf tissue.
They also encourage fungal growth that damages leaves. Instead, direct your watering can or hose right at the soil level.
Soaker hoses work wonderfully for garden beds, delivering moisture exactly where roots need it without wetting leaves at all.
9. Bring Potted Mums Inside During Frost Warnings
With a heart set on extending your mum display, moving potted plants inside during Missouri frost warnings saves them from sudden leaf damage. Even a light frost can turn healthy leaves brown and crispy overnight, ending your fall color show early.
Check weather forecasts regularly as October progresses. When frost threatens, simply carry pots onto a covered porch or into a garage for the night.
Return them outside the next morning, and your mums will keep blooming beautifully for several more weeks.