When Is the Best Time to Remove Winter Mulch of Pine Needles and Leaves From Mums?

Mum Growing Season

• Mums grow during spring and summer, and bloom in fall when the days begin to grow short. They maintain their bloom until the first freeze, when they die or go dormant, depending on cultivar and care. Mums grow in single, pompom, cushion, anemone, decorative, spider and spoon varieties, each with a slightly different blooming season and duration. Cultivars grow from 1 1/2 to 3 feet tall, and require regular pinching to promote branching and healthy growth.

Winter Protection

• Purdue University's Department of Horticulture notes that most mum cultivars qualify as hardy and live through the winter with the right protection. Cover the mum garden with 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch, such as leaves and pine needles, in late fall to early winter. The Department of Horticulture recommends waiting until temperatures drop to 20 to 30 degrees F to spread the mulch.

Spring Growth

• Uncover the winter-protected mums after the last frost lifts in spring and temperatures rise to 60 to 65 degrees F. This gives the plants a warm, sunny start. Rake the mulch gently off the plants, without damaging any established foliage or new shoots. Turn the mulch into the top 2 to 3 inches of soil around the mums to increase drainage and nutrition, or move the mulch to your home compost pile. Don't move the mulch to other beds, as fresh mulch is better for new plants.

  Pull out any mums that died during the winter, and dispose of them. Plant new mums in their places to fill out the bed. The Purdue University Department of Horticulture recommends that gardeners divide their mums at this time as well, to propagate new plants and encourage a better blooming season. Cut suckers off the established plants, with a section of roots, and move them to new planting sites for growth

Care

• Give the mums a helping of organic compost in the spring to wake them up and increase soil quality. Mix 3 inches of compost into the top 2 inches of soil around each plant and throughout the planting bed. Purdue University's Department of Horticulture recommends adding 10-10-10 granular fertilizer to the soil in spring to get the flowers started. Feed mums again in midsummer to encourage a brighter bloom. Begin regular waterings at this time, with 5 to 6 inches of water every week.