Louisiana’s fall heat can be tough on mums, but they don’t have to suffer. A few thoughtful steps keep leaves healthy and flowers vibrant.
Paying attention to water, sun, and soil goes a long way. With a little care, your mums can brighten your garden all season long.
1. Water Early in the Morning
Morning watering gives mums the moisture they need before Louisiana’s heat kicks in. When you water early, the soil absorbs the water efficiently, and any excess evaporates slowly throughout the day.
Afternoon watering can cause stress because plants lose moisture faster in hot conditions. Evening watering leaves foliage damp overnight, which invites fungal diseases that thrive in Louisiana’s humidity.
Set your alarm or make it part of your breakfast routine to water your mums between 6 and 9 AM for the best results.
2. Choose the Right Location
Location matters tremendously for keeping mums healthy through Louisiana’s long fall season. While mums love sunlight, too much intense afternoon sun can scorch their leaves and dry them out quickly.
Find a spot that gets morning sun but afternoon shade, especially during those warm September and October days. A covered porch or under a tree canopy works perfectly.
Avoid placing mums against heat-reflecting surfaces like brick walls or concrete, which amplify temperature and stress the plants unnecessarily in Louisiana’s climate.
3. Use Mulch Around the Base
Adding a layer of mulch around your mums works like a protective blanket for their roots. Mulch keeps soil temperature stable and prevents moisture from evaporating too quickly during warm Louisiana afternoons.
Spread two to three inches of organic mulch like pine straw or shredded bark around the base. Keep the mulch away from touching the stems directly to prevent rot.
This simple trick reduces how often you need to water and keeps roots cool, which means healthier foliage throughout the fall season in Louisiana.
4. Check Soil Moisture Daily
Your finger is the best tool for knowing when mums need water. Stick your finger about an inch deep into the soil each morning to feel the moisture level.
If the soil feels dry, water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. If it feels damp, skip watering that day.
Louisiana’s weather can change quickly from rainy to dry spells, so daily checks prevent both overwatering and underwatering. Consistent moisture without soggy soil keeps leaves from turning crispy and brown, ensuring your mums stay gorgeous all season long.
5. Deadhead Spent Blooms Regularly
Removing faded flowers encourages your mums to produce more blooms instead of wasting energy on dying ones. Pinch or snip off brown or wilted flowers just above the next set of leaves.
This practice keeps plants looking tidy and redirects nutrients to healthy growth. In Louisiana, where mums can bloom for months, deadheading makes a noticeable difference.
Spend a few minutes every few days inspecting your plants and removing spent blooms. Your mums will reward you with fresh flowers and vibrant foliage throughout the entire fall.
6. Fertilize with Balanced Plant Food
Mums are heavy feeders and need regular nutrition to maintain their colorful blooms and green leaves. Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks throughout the fall season.
Look for formulas with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, like a 10-10-10 blend. Follow package directions carefully to avoid burning the roots.
Proper feeding keeps foliage lush and prevents yellowing or browning that happens when plants run out of nutrients. Louisiana’s growing season extends well into November, so continued fertilization keeps your mums thriving longer than expected.
7. Protect from Heavy Rain
Louisiana’s fall thunderstorms can dump heavy rain that damages delicate mum flowers and waterloggs the soil. Too much water causes root rot and turns leaves brown and mushy.
When storms approach, move potted mums under cover like a porch or carport. For garden-planted mums, ensure proper drainage so water doesn’t pool around the roots.
After heavy rains pass, check if containers need emptying from saucers beneath them. Proper water management during Louisiana’s unpredictable weather patterns keeps your mums healthy and prevents crispy, damaged foliage throughout fall.
8. Trim Back Leggy Growth
Sometimes mums develop long, stretched-out stems that make plants look scraggly and weak. Trimming these leggy branches encourages bushier, more compact growth with better foliage coverage.
Use clean scissors or pruning shears to cut back overgrown stems by about one-third. Make cuts just above a leaf node where new growth will emerge.
This technique works especially well early in the season, but even mid-fall trimming helps in Louisiana’s extended growing period. Compact plants resist wind damage better and maintain attractive, full shapes with healthy green leaves instead of sparse, crispy ones.
9. Watch for Pests and Diseases
Aphids, spider mites, and fungal diseases love Louisiana’s warm, humid conditions and can quickly damage mum foliage. Inspect your plants weekly for tiny bugs, webbing, or spotted leaves.
Catch problems early by spraying affected areas with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Remove any diseased leaves immediately to prevent spread.
Good air circulation helps prevent fungal issues, so avoid crowding plants together. Healthy, pest-free mums keep their vibrant green leaves and colorful blooms much longer throughout the fall season in Louisiana without turning brown or crispy from infestations.