It is nearly time to prepare Chrysanthemums for winter. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach advise covering garden mums with a protective mulch of straw, pine needles and evergreen branches in late fall. Leaves are not recommended as mulch. Also, fall planted mums usually do not survive the winter because they have shallow roots that are damaged by repeated freezingand thawing of the soil. Spring is the best time to plant mums in Iowa because they have the entire growing season to get established before winter.

For more information about mums click here.