Red mammy , also know as chrysanthemum , can be classified as perennial , meaning they have the potential to come back twelvemonth after year . However , in many cases , they are grown as annuals , especially in region where wintertime temperatures can be passing frigid .
If you endure in an area with USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 through 6 , where winter can be frigid , you should pick out ahead of time - blooming varieties of mums . These potpourri have a better chance of surviving the wintertime and return in subsequent years .
Many gardeners choose to treat mums as annuals in cold neighborhood due to the challenges they may face in overwinter them successfully . While some varieties of mums can survive the winter , it can be a piece more unpredictable in colder climates .
To improve the chance of mums outlive the winter and pass in the following years , there are a few steps you could take . First , pick out brave mum mixed bag that are specifically bred for inhuman climates . These varieties are more potential to have the necessary cold margin to withstand harsh winter conditions .
Secondly , it is important to set mums in well - draining territory . Excess wet around the ascendant during the winter can moderate to rot and damage the plant ’s chance of natural selection .
Additionally , provide a layer of mulch around the fundament of the mums can help isolate the roots and protect them from freeze temperatures . This can be done in late fall or early winter , once the terra firma has part to freeze .
In areas with peculiarly harsh winter , you may also take adding a stratum of protective screening , such as gunny , over the flora to shield them from wind instrument and utmost cold . This can be especially utilitarian for new planted florist’s chrysanthemum or those that are not yet fully established .
It ’s worth notice that even with these precautions , there is still a opportunity that mums may not outlive the wintertime in cold regions . factor such as the severeness of the winter , the specific form of mamma , and single garden circumstance can all play a use in their survival .
In my personal experience , I have had mixed results with overwintering mums in a USDA Zone 5 garden . While some variety have returned reliably year after year , others have struggled to survive the wintertime , even with protective measures in place .
While ruddy florists' chrysanthemum can technically be consider perennials , their ability to survive the winter and takings in subsequent years can be uncertain in colder regions . Choosing other - blooming smorgasbord and apply protective measures can amend their chance of overwinter successfully , but it ’s important to be prepare for the possibility that they may not derive back reliably .
Caroline Bates
