Q: I have mum plants in 6-inch pots that I didnt get planted before this cold weather hit. Can I still plant them and hope they come up next year? If not, can I keep them over the winter, maybe in the basement?
A: Forget the basement idea. Youre better off getting the mums in the ground ASAP in a sunny, well drained spot. Give the roots a little extra time to acclimate before a hard ground freeze by choosing a spot along a west-facing brick wall, where the extra warmth could make a big difference.
You can also help out the roots by adding 2 to 3 inches of bark mulch around the base of the plants and letting the foliage alone until spring even after it browns out. The frost-killed foliage gives a little extra insulation to the crown of the plants. Thats also a good practice for all mums young or old. Also keep the soil damp (but not soggy) until the ground freezes. If they still croak, at least youll know there was nothing else you could have done.