When to Book Mums

The biggest issue that many landscapers face for Fall mum plantings is getting what the client wants! Often the best varieties of landscape mums are gone by the time your clients start to think about them. Here’s a handy timeline to keep in mind:

January – Growers are booking liner orders with their suppliers. These liners will become the mum crop for the coming Fall. For the newest and most preferred varieties, January is the best time to book your order with your grower. Since the Recession, most growers no longer speculate on mums and basically grow what they sold last year plus a little more. They need to know if your numbers will be higher than last year and what color mix is desired.

February – Your grower may allow changes to your January order through the month of February. After February you may have to settle for the varieties and quantity selected by the grower.

March through June – The grower’s mum crop is underway. It is too late to add or change an order and hope to finish on time.

July through September – Mum orders are ready for installation.

October through November – Review job sites and determine which mum varieties worked well and which did not. Discuss with your clients and be ready to book with your grower in January.

Three Factors that Influence your Choice of Mums

1. Choose your grower based on quality, not price. Great variety selection (genetics) cannot overcome poor growing techniques. Good growing techniques cannot overcome poor genetics. Make sure your grower is taking advantage of genetic improvements in varieties. See photos at top left.

2. Partnership: Your grower is your best ally when it comes to advice on what works. Site-specific factors such as streetlights can affect mum performance. Mums flower best under short days. If you put them under fluorescent streetlights, they will most likely stay in bud, but not open into blooms. Talk to your grower about your mum needs and preferences.

Also, be sure to Inform your grower about your desired bloom window to help determine if you need early, mid or late season mums. Late season mums flower later, but last longer in the landscape.

3. Select plants based on “head” size (the overall size of the flowering canopy), not pot size. Mums grow differently. Determine the type of plant or show you need, and base your choice on that, not just on cost. See photos at bottom left for examples.

Making Mum Combos

Create cool and colorful garden mum combos by choosing varieties within the same family. Use this guide to find the colors and timing that will produce the best combos:

Regional Favorites

East/Northeast:  Plumberry, Honeyblush, Red Ryder, Pumpkin Pie

Midwest: Grapeberry, Radiant Red, Yellow Tang or Gold Riot, Pumpkin Pie, Orange Zest

South: Blazing Orange or Orange Zest, Red Ryder, Gold Riot or Yellow Tang

Contact your grower for more information on your best regional picks.