Submitted by cathie.terry on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 22:33.
Although many people—at least those who live in regions that experience colorful, fall foliage—say that autumn is their favorite season, there are plenty who are sad to see summer fade away. If you belong to the latter camp, you can easily cheer yourself up and freshen your garden’s look by adding some chrysanthemum plants for long-lasting seasonal color. Mums, as they’re commonly known, revive the garden with a bright splash of life while the summer bloomers are in a steady decline.
Mums, as they’re commonly known, prefer the cooler air of fall, and they don’t mind the shorter spans of sunlight. As hardy as they are pretty, they shrug off mild frost and will keep your porch, window boxes, and flower beds looking good right up until you’re ready to switch over to Christmas or winter decorations. And that doesn’t have to be the end of the story; with just a little bit of care, your mums will return next year to give you spring color. They’re so easy to grow that even self-labeled “black thumbs” will succeed with the help of sun, water, and fair to good soil that is well drained.
Caring for Chrysanthemums