When to Plant Chrysanthemum

Summer is almost over and I find that I am thinking about the fall season. Fall is my favorite time of the year because of the garden activities. When it comes to working in the yard and garden there are many things to do, planting chrysanthemum is one of my favorite activities in fall.  

Do you plant mums in fall? 

In late August to the first week of September, I will plant Chrysanthemums in containers and in feature gardens. Now I live in growing zone 6 and we have a long autumn season. For other growing zones in the USA, I would say plant mums at least six weeks before a hard frost.

Chrysanthemums come in a variety of colors; white, yellow, lilac, purple bronze, cream, orange, pink, green burgundy-red, and bi-colors. There is a color flower for everyone and these long-lived flowers really brighten up the garden.

The mum is a beautiful flower so show it off by planting in your feature garden, or outlining your front walkway. You can also add to wheelbarrow gardens or plant container gardens for your front porch. 

I have planted mums in containers and in the ground. Then after a hard frost, I will cut the plant back into the soil and add a layer of mulch. The mum then returns the following year.

Here are a few photographs of chrysanthemums I hope they will inspire to plant this lovely flower in your fall garden.

All images are from pixabay.com

Rustic Trunk Planter Ideas

Instead of shopping for new clay or plastic planters for your flowers or greenery, go to yard sales, and buy rustic wood trunks for your garden. These rustic trunks will add interest to your garden. A container that is different from the norm will not only enable your plants to grow but will also be a focal area in your yard and garden.

Grow petunia in a rustic trunk planter

Here is a digital design that I created to show one of the clients how she could utilize one of her vintage trunks. In her case, the trunk would be set up on a sunny porch that had rain protection. 

Before planting in a wooden trunk I would recommend that you apply

a water seal to protect the wood. Also, you would not fill the trunk with soil but you would drop in a plastic shelf about 10 inches into the trunk. Then on top, you would add your self-watering planters for your flowers, herbs, or sweet potato vines.

This open trunk planter is unique and adds tremendous interest to your garden.

Combination Container Gardens – Spring Bulbs

Extend your container garden bloom season by planting a variety of plants and bulbs that bloom at different times. When it comes time to put together a container garden I prefer to plant once, then enjoy early, mid, and late spring season flowers. This type of container garden is good for someone who is busy and has no time to garden or someone who has a small yard, terrace, or balcony.

Flower Container Garden by sgolis

Grow a variety of spring bulbs but before you buy you will need to check the bloom time. If you shop online at Netherlandsbulbcompany.com you will read that some bulbs have bloom times in early spring, mid-spring, and late spring.

Here are a few spring bulbs that I like to plant in a combination container.  For early spring plants; Narcissus Jet Fire, Tulip Red Emperor, Crocus Large Flowering Mixture, Galanthus snowdrops.  Mid-Spring; Narcissus butterfly mixture, Tulip Red Riding Hood, Muscari Delft Blue Mixture  Late Spring Narcissus Pheasant’s Eye, Tulip Foxtrot, Giant Grape Hyacinth

Put your combination container garden together in the fall because the bulbs do need to have a winter season in order to bloom in the spring.

For abundant blooms and colorful flower container gardens, I plant 15 spring bulbs per square foot. The bulbs are planted flat side down, pointed side up, and are 3 inches apart. Yes, the bulbs are close together but come spring when they bloom the container gardens look fabulous.

Planting Tips:

1. Plant spring bulbs in the fall, six weeks prior to a hard frost.
2. I recommend mixing bone meal with the potting soil. The bone meal will provide the bulbs with phosphorous and calcium. It is great for strong roots. Plus squirrels do not like the smell of bonemeal and will stay out of your spring bulb containers.

Natural Summer Allergy/Sinusitis Treatment

Summer pollen-related allergies are the worst especially if you love gardening. If you suffer from seasonal allergies you can get relief by taking medication like Claritin for indoor and outdoor allergies or you can choose a natural treatment.

Now that summer is here I have been working in the garden every day. I love spending time in my garden but since I am allergic to grasses, trees, and some flowers I am getting allergy symptoms; sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and cough.  

If you suffer from summer allergies then you can get natural relief with a saline nasal rinse that will balance your pH. Nasal irrigation is a good way to remove indoor and outdoor allergens including dust, animal dander, grass or flower pollen, and household dust.  I irrigate my nose twice a day with this saline and breath easier.

Along with the nasal rinse,  I will mix a teaspoon of diatomaceous earth food grade, a natural silica supplement with 8 ounces of water or juice, and drink in the morning. The DE is a great way to do whole-body detoxification and will clear out excess mucus.

Boost your immune system with honey lemon ginseng green tea with white tea.  Brew several cups throughout the day and sip them slowly.   The antioxidants found in this tea will help you to feel better. 

Here are a few flowers and trees that will cause you to have seasonal allergies; goldenrod, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, daisies, and chamomile. Trees; walnut, pine, elm, cedar, birch. beech, hickory. silver maple and oak. (leaf mold and mites)

CHRYSANTHEMUM

DAISIES

SUNFLOWER

Garden Path Ideas

When I was a kid, my parents had a garden path along the side of the house, this path took us to the rose garden and to the patio. I liked the path because I did not have to walk on the grass and after rain, I did not have to worry about getting muddy shoes.

Our garden paths enabled me to pick roses without stepping on the ground, in addition, my parents could weed the gardens without getting grass stains on their clothes.

Growing up with garden paths meant that I would have them in my yard. Know that my garden paths have come a long way since I was a kid. My present home has many paths. Some are stone, others are pavers and we also have pea gravel and a path that is made from mulch.

Here is a photograph of my upper garden path that is in between the hosta garden and the irises. Then there is a cement block path that came with the house. The husband and I installed another path/patio out of the flagstone. This path leads to the mid-level cement patio.

In the lower level of my yard, there is a stepping stone with a pea gravel path that takes you to the dog pen. The other path will take you to the back wildflower garden. This path is a cement capstone surrounded by mulch.

All of the paths in the yard are interesting, they define the garden and are also a benefit.

Learn more about garden paths by reading my how-to articles.

Install a Pea Gravel Path

Dry Set Flagstone Patio and Walkway

Capstone Garden Path