Q. The beautiful mums in front of my condo that I started from a small indoor plant thrived and multiplied for more than 10 years. Every year after the blooms faded, they were cut down, and they returned in the spring. Unfortunately, not this year. Do mums have a finite life span? I miss them and want something to brighten up the spot again in the fall. What is your suggestion? — Joy Kaps, Virginia Beach
A. It is hard to say exactly what led to your mums’ demise. But yes, over time they do tend to decline. Under the right conditions you might expect garden mums to live three to four years. Given that you said it was an indoor plant, I suspect it was a florist mum. These are a different beast and are not bred for outdoor performance and hardiness. But with mild winters and proper care, they sometimes exceed expectations.
I’d suggest pansies or violas as a suitable replacement. They will not give you the height that your mums did, but they will definitely give you color well through the fall and into the winter. With a little protection and a mild winter, they may come back again for you in the spring. But don’t expect that these will be a permanent replacement. They will need to be replanted every year.
Now would be a good time to freshen up your bed, since the mums have been there for such a long time. Clean it out; invest in a few bags of compost and work it in well.
While you may begin to see some pansies out in the marketplace by now, don’t be in a rush to buy and plant them. Pansies are cool-temperature plants that will have an easier time getting established and thriving when our high summer temperatures have receded. The University of Georgia Extension recommends planting between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 in Zones 8A and 8B. You could possibly cheat on those dates a bit, depending on how fall temperatures are trending.
When you buy, avoid the small cell-pack plants and go with the 6-inch pots, even though they cost more. Not only will they provide more size and color instantly, they will also have a larger root system that will help them get established more quickly. Pots of that size should be planted on 8- to 10-inch centers. They should fill out very nicely, and it won’t take as many of them. This is what professional landscapers use. I think the trade-off is well worth it.
Pansies are one of the world’s most popular landscape plants, thanks to plant breeders who have created a huge array of diversity within the groups, or series, into which they are separated. Generally, pansies are categorized based on characteristics such as flower size, color, clear or blotched face, plant size and habit, and cold tolerance. I’ve always liked the Delta series, for their habit, color range (32 colors) and cold tolerance. I also like the Cool Wave series, a relatively newer introduction with a spreading habit. They are great for hanging baskets and planters. In a bed, they spread out and cover a lot of ground. Take your pick.
And then there are violas. These have smaller leaves and flowers but in general are little more heat- and cold-hardy. I like the way they look, but most people seem to prefer the larger flowered pansies. I’m a fan of the Sorbet series, but there are plenty of other good ones out there.
Once you’ve planted, keep things well-watered, particularly if in full sun and summer temperatures return. Check on your plantings daily to ensure they have the moisture they need. Feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro’s all-purpose plant food, or similar, every two weeks.
For a bit more information on the care of pansies, see the University of Georgia Extension publication at bit.ly/3Yvfmzf.
And one more thing
How’s your garden and landscape experience been this summer? Trying something different or new? What worked, or didn’t work? Any surprises? Write in and let us know.
Send questions to wkspen@gmail.com