Fall in Ohio brings vibrant chrysanthemums to porches and gardens across the state. These colorful flowers can brighten your landscape well into November with the right care.
Knowing how to maintain your mums through our unpredictable Midwest fall weather makes all the difference between short-lived blooms and a season-long color show.
1. Choose Late-Blooming Varieties
Start with the right mum varieties that naturally bloom later in the season. Garden centers often stock early, mid, and late-season bloomers, so check plant labels carefully.
Varieties like ‘Clara Curtis’ and ‘Sheffield Pink’ are excellent choices for extended Ohio fall displays. Their natural blooming cycle aligns perfectly with our cooler autumn temperatures, giving you weeks of additional color.
2. Perfect Your Watering Schedule
Mums need consistent moisture to maintain their beautiful blooms, but Ohio’s fall weather can be unpredictable. Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings.
During dry spells, increase watering frequency but avoid soaking the foliage and flowers. A good rule is checking the top inch of soil – if it’s dry, your mums are thirsty.
3. Shelter From Harsh Weather
Ohio’s fall weather can swing from warm days to freezing nights without warning. When frost threatens, temporarily cover mums with lightweight fabric or move potted plants to protected areas.
A covered porch offers perfect protection from overnight frosts while still providing needed sunlight during the day. Remember to uncover plants or return them to their regular spots once temperatures rise above freezing.
4. Feed With The Right Fertilizer
Mums benefit from a final feeding in early fall using a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (like 5-10-10). This nutrient balance encourages blooms rather than leafy growth.
Apply fertilizer when buds first show color but haven’t fully opened. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas that promote soft growth susceptible to frost damage. Water thoroughly after application to help nutrients reach the root zone without burning tender roots.
5. Remove Spent Blooms Regularly
Deadheading makes a remarkable difference in keeping your mums blooming longer. Pinch or snip off faded flowers before they form seeds, directing the plant’s energy toward developing new buds.
Focus on removing individual spent blooms rather than cutting back whole stems. The process takes just minutes every few days but can extend your flowering display by weeks, keeping your Ohio garden colorful even as other plants fade.
6. Mulch For Temperature Control
Applying a 2-inch layer of shredded bark or straw around your mums helps regulate soil temperature during Ohio’s fluctuating fall weather. Mulch acts as insulation, keeping roots cooler during warm days and warmer during chilly nights.
Keep the mulch slightly away from stems to prevent rot issues. This simple step not only extends blooming but also improves your chances of mums surviving winter if you’ve planted them in the ground.
7. Strategic Placement For Maximum Sun
Reposition potted mums to follow the sun as autumn progresses and daylight hours shorten. Full morning sun with afternoon protection works beautifully in Ohio’s fall climate.
South-facing locations typically offer ideal light conditions. Moving container plants even a few feet can make a significant difference in bloom quality and longevity. Remember that plants in shadier spots will develop fewer buds and bloom less vigorously.
8. Protect From Wind Damage
Fall winds can break delicate stems and damage flowers, especially on top-heavy mums. Create windbreaks using decorative screens, porch railings, or even larger potted plants to shield your mums from gusts.
For garden-planted mums, consider installing small decorative fencing or placing them near structures that block prevailing winds. This protection helps maintain pristine blooms longer while adding charming visual elements to your Ohio fall garden.
9. Maintain Proper Spacing
Overcrowded mums compete for nutrients and develop poor air circulation, leading to disease problems and shorter bloom times. Space plants 18-24 inches apart when planting in garden beds.
For container displays, resist the urge to pack too many plants together for immediate impact. Give each plant room to breathe by using larger containers or fewer plants per pot. Proper spacing allows each mum to develop its full potential.
10. Evening Moisture Management
Ohio’s cool fall nights can create heavy dew that promotes fungal diseases on mum foliage and flowers. Shake excess moisture from plants in the early evening when possible.
If using overhead irrigation, always water in the morning so plants can dry before nightfall. Consider installing soaker hoses for garden beds or bottom-watering container plants to keep foliage dry. These simple moisture management techniques dramatically extend bloom quality through our humid fall season.