o u t d o o r s

plantings

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Words of

Wisdom

D e b G ro th g ro w s th o u sa n d s o f

m u m s o v e r th e s u m m e r at her

Iow a n u rsery, G ro th ’s G a rd e n s

(

grothsgardens.com

), so th at

th e y ’re re a d y fo r h er c u sto m e rs

c o m e fall. H e re ’s h o w sh e g ets

th e m o st fro m m u m s.

P L A N T IN F U L L SU N M um s

need at least six h o u rs o f d irect

sun daily to g ro w and bloom

well. “A fter a potted m u m is in

full bloom ,” says Deb, “y o u can then m ove it to a m o re shaded area.”

W A TE R SP A R IN G LY “M u m s require go od drainage, but give th em w ater

before the leaves b eco m e limp,” D eb says. If y o u r garden soil is heavy clay, o r

if it stays so ggy after rainfall, plant m u m s in raised beds o r pots.

P R O T E C T IN W IN T E R A p p ly an extra layer o f p ro tective m u lch after the first

hard frost. “Fall-planted m u m s are vulnerable to w inter dam age,” says Deb.

“Extra m u lch can help p ro tect th e ir ro o ts and prevent heaving.” W ait until

sp rin g to cu t o ff dead stem s.

P E T A L LIN G W A R E S F o r fall planting, the m ost p o p ular m u m co lo rs are red,

orange, and yellow , but th e y are available in n early every co lo r except true

blue and violet. Petal shapes vary as well. T h e m o st p o p ular fo rm s,

above,

clockwise from top left,

are: daisy, sp o o n -tip , d o ub le daisy, and decorative.

For buying information seepage

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2

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130

OCTOBER

2009

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

PHOTOS: (DEB GRO TH ) BLAINE MOATS; (MUM DETAILS) MARTY BALDWIN