We Asked a Gardener If Mums Will Come Back Next Year, and We Wish We’d Never Thrown Ours Out

Do mums come back in the spring or are they short-lived plants that wow for just one season before dying away? The answer honestly really depends: Some mums won’t survive the winter, while other mums can grow perennially if you plant them at the right time and give them some winter protection.

In this guide, plant pros answer all your mum related questions and offer their top tips on how to winterize mums to ensure your plants last as long as possible.

Do Mums Come Back Every Year?

Mums are generally divided into two main types; the kind of mum you have will determine whether your plants will survive the winter or not.

Florist mums are typically sold in pots in fall and are bursting with countless blooms in showy autumn shades. They are only hardy from zones 7 to 9 and have shallow root systems that are easily damaged by cold even in areas where they grow perennially. As a result, florist mums are typically grown only as annuals and thrown away at the end of the season.

Garden mums, on the other hand, have fewer flowers, a looser growth habit, and more visible and narrower leaves, but their deeper root systems make them more winter hardy. These plants grow perennially from zones 4 to 9 and can be easily overwintered in most areas. However, garden mums are a bit too large for pots and are best for in-ground growing.

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How to Keep Mums So They Come Back Next Fall

Because florist mums are only intended to be enjoyed for a single season, they usually won’t last through winter no matter how you treat them. But garden mums should grow perennially and survive even harsh winter weather if you follow these simple steps.

Plant Them Early

Garden mums are often sold in greenhouses in spring, which is the best time to plant them if you want to keep these plants around for the long haul. However, you can plant garden mums in autumn too if you time it right.

“If you want to try to winter garden mums over, plant them in the ground in early fall so they have time to develop a good root system,” says gardening expert Marie Winter.

Depending on where you live, you can plant your mums as late as mid-October, but it’s best to get them in the ground at least 4 to 6 weeks before frost is expected in your area.

Choose the Right Growing Location

Mums of any sort need at least six hours of direct light per day to grow and bloom abundantly. Choosing a sunny growing location is particularly important if you want your plants to survive the winter. Sunny areas stay warmer year-round, which can help mums survive the chilliest winter weather.

You’ll also want to choose a planting spot that’s slightly sheltered from harsh winds and that has well-draining soil that doesn’t stay wet for too long.

If your garden drains poorly, you can plant garden mums in raised beds. Just note that container-grown plants may need to be brought into a sheltered garage or insulated with bubble wrap or an old blanket if you don’t want their pots to break when the temperature drops.

Add Mulch

Of course, like other perennials, garden mums are more likely to survive winters if you protect their roots with a thick layer of mulch.

“Add a 4 inch layer of mulch when the ground freezes,” says Winter. “Then remove the mulch in mid-April during a warm spell.”

This layer of mulch will also shield your plant’s roots from frost heaving, which can lift shallow rooted mums out of the soil and leave their roots exposed to drying winds. Most natural mulches work well for these plants; wood and bark mulch or pine straw are always popular.

What to Do With Mums You’re Not Keeping

Whether you’re growing garden or florist mums, some growers just don’t want to keep mums around all year long. If that’s you, here are a few eco-friendly ways to get rid of leftover mums that you don’t want when the fall season is through.

Compost Them

Florist mums can simply be tossed into your compost pile when they die back with frost. Once they’re dried out and brown, these plants will act as a carbon source and should be combined with lots of nitrogen-rich ingredients for proper composting. They’ll also break down faster if you chop their stems and roots into bits before composting.

Give Them Away

If you have garden mums that you don’t want in your garden, consider offering them your neighbors, family, or friends, or gift them to local food pantries and non-profits that may want to use them for holiday decorating.

In a pinch, you can often give unwanted plants away through community boards or an online post, or grow the mum indoors as houseplants until you can bring them to a plant swap in spring.

Start Crafting

Mum flowers dry beautifully and typically keep their gorgeous fall colors if you dry them properly. You can use these dried blooms for homemade bouquets, potpourri, or flower pressing, or make other creative crafts.

Dried mum flowers look especially appealing when attached to autumn wreathes with colorful berries, dried grasses, pinecones, and other foraged items from your yard, but don’t be afraid to get a little creative with your own crafting projects and think outside the box!