By Tamara Galbraith

Chrysanthemums are a mainstay of the fall garden. Pots of these colorful perennials really brighten up a porch, patio, or entryway. Their hardiness and color range make them perfect for both the landscape and container holiday arrangements.

They can also be used to decorate indoors; the fall colors are beautiful for holiday table settings. Mums come in a variety of types including daisy (single layer of petals), button mums (tiny spheres made up of dozens of petals), and spider mums (long arching petals with tips curved upwards). Yellow, rust, gold, bronze, and maroon, as well as pink, white, red, and lavender, are just some of the many exciting chrysanthemum colors.

These tough plants will thrive in less than ideal conditions, although they prefer full to partial sun and good, well drained soil. Their shallow root system dictates that they be watered often. Apply a balanced fertilizer on a regular basis.

After plants are done blooming, pinch or shear back so the mum will eventually develop a bushier shape. Once fall arrives again, don't trim them anymore so buds can develop, and switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus to promote blooming.

Mums will survive winter in most zones; however, Wisconsin can experience very cold winters, so to be safe apply a thick layer of mulch over your mums to protect them or if you'd prefer, dig them up and put them in the garage for the winter.

Aphids are the main mum-munchers. Other than those little beasts, mums experience little other insect damage.

Believe it or not, the one thing that can really affect the flowering of your mums is nighttime light, so don't plant them where they will be exposed to streetlights or foundation lighting. Like us humans, mums need a good night's sleep to be at their best!