Decorating with mums in the fall is a lot of fun. There are so many ways to use them as well. Many of us use the mums like annuals. I have seen them decorate porches and around the yard for a blast of color in the fall. The mums can winter over in your garden if you do some prep work and turn them into perennials. When I was buying my mums this year, I found that there are not only many colors to choose from there is also a variety of mums and sizes to pick from. What fun. Now where to begin…

When buying your mums not all mums are the same for surviving the harsh winters in areas like Colorado. Always check the tags to make sure they are for hardy zones in colder climates. If in doubt the nursery employees will be able to help you

Once you have made your choices in you mums and you know where you want to plant them you will want to get them planted as soon as you buy them. To get them established before winter hits. The key is using compost over them on the ground around them. Keeping them moist but not soaked. Planting early enough allows the roots to get established before winter. They cannot be put in pots and then later added to the soil close to winter, they will not survive. You should dispose of them. September is probably the latest in the season to plant them. One more piece of advice is to not clip the dead stems until spring.

Mums can be used in groupings like this on your front porch, side entrance or even in your backyard.

Find unusual containers to put them in from baskets to tin cans.

Or even plant them in with other flowers for the end of the season flowers.

Another idea is to use cut mums and put them in an arrangement on a table in your house.