How to Decorate with Mums for a Gorgeous Fall
The Charm of Fall Mums: How I Use Them to Transform My Home Each Autumn
For me, the start of fall has nothing to do with the calendar or the temperature, it’s when the kids head back to school. Even if it’s still 90 degrees outside, that’s my signal to grab a cart, head to the garden center, and load up on mums.
Those first pots of chrysanthemums flip the switch from summer to autumn. They’re my favorite way to bring fall home early, bright, hardy, and ready to turn a plain porch into a warm, welcoming space. Whether I’m layering them with pumpkins, lining the walkway, or tucking them around the backyard, mums are my go-to for that instant cozy fall vibe.
Here’s how I approach mums every year, from timing and colors to porch displays and keeping them alive long enough to really enjoy.
When to Start Your Mum Shopping
Timing really is everything. The sweet spot for buying chrysanthemums falls between late August and early October, depending on where you live.
If you’re in the north, shop in late August to early September.
In the south, you can wait until mid- to late September.
The healthiest plants (and the longest-lasting color) come from choosing mums that are just starting to show their color, not already in full bloom. Those tight buds will gradually open and give you six to eight weeks of vibrant color. Skip the full-bloom showstoppers; they’ll fade fast.
Here’s a trick I use: buy in stages. I’ll pick up an early-blooming batch at the end of August, and then, come mid-September, I grab late-blooming varieties. That way, my porch stays bright well into November.
The Rainbow of Mum Colors
Fall mums are like nature’s paint palette. You’ve got the traditional warm tones (deep burgundy, burnt orange, golden yellow, bronze) that mimic the leaves overhead. But don’t stop there. You’ll also find vibrant reds, soft pinks, bright whites, and rich purples. Some varieties even blend colors: yellow centers with red tips, bronze petals rimmed in gold.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Deep Red – Bold and dramatic
Burnt Orange – Classic fall; pairs beautifully with pumpkins
Golden Yellow – Cheerful, bright, and mood-lifting
Bronze – Sophisticated and rich
Burgundy – Deep and elegant for a formal look
White – Clean, versatile, pairs with anything
Purple – Unexpected, adds a little twist
How to Match Mum Colors with Your Home
This is where people get tripped up. Color matters, and your home’s exterior is the backdrop:
Neutral siding (white, gray, beige): Go wild, any color pops.
Red brick: Stick with golden yellow, bronze, or white. Avoid red mums; they’ll clash.
Brown or tan: Warm oranges, yellows, bronze, or white look great.
Dark siding (navy, green, charcoal): Choose bright yellows, oranges, and white for high contrast.
Stone or gray: Purple, burgundy, and white soften cool undertones.
Creating Color Combinations
Want your display to look intentional? Think in color schemes:
Monochromatic: Vary shades of one color family (yellow + bronze).
Complementary: Use opposites on the color wheel (purple + yellow).
Analogous: Use neighbors on the color wheel (orange, red, burgundy).
Some tried-and-true combos:
Yellow + purple for a big punch
Orange + burgundy for cozy richness
White with any color for a crisp finish
Bronze + golden yellow for classic autumn
Red + orange for fiery energy
Keeping Mums Alive (Longer Than Two Weeks)
Here’s how I keep my mums from dying the week after I bring them home:
Water: Keep soil moist, not soggy. Test with your finger; water when the top inch is dry.
Deadhead: Pinch or cut off spent blooms. It encourages more flowers.
Watch temps: Water more during heat waves. Protect or cover them during unexpected frosts.
Fertilize: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every other week (half strength). Stop four weeks before the first frost.
Front Porch Decorating Ideas
Your front porch sets the stage. I like to work in clusters of odd numbers, three, five, or seven. Different container sizes add height and interest.
By the door: Go big. Use substantial containers that fit your home’s style:
Wooden barrels for farmhouse
Sleek ceramic for modern
Terracotta for classic
Layers: Put tall mums in the back, medium in the middle, and smaller plants, pumpkins, and hay bales in front.
Pathways: Line walkways with pots of mums. Use the same container style, but vary the colors. Add solar lights for glow at night.
Vertical interest: Hanging baskets filled with trailing mums work wonders on a covered porch.
Mums in the Yard
Mums aren’t just for porches. They’re fantastic in flower beds, around mailboxes, or even as seasonal borders:
Plant them in clusters for bold color.
Use them to highlight spaces—benches, walkways, patios.
Pay attention to size: standard mums reach 12-18 inches, while cushion mums stay around 8-12.
For bigger properties, I love scattering little “pockets” of mums throughout—one near the driveway, another near a bench, another by the fence. It pulls your eye around the whole space.
Backyard Patio and Porch Ideas
The backyard deserves fall color too:
Group mums around seating areas to define spaces.
Place pots along patio edges, near fire pits, or around outdoor kitchens.
Position displays where you can enjoy them from inside your house.
Use hanging baskets on covered patios for overhead color.
Create simple fall tablescapes with small mums, candles, mini pumpkins, and leaves.
Container Tips
Pick pots twice the size of the nursery pot.
Make sure they have drainage holes.
Use stands or blocks to vary the height.
Choose lightweight pots if you’ll need to move them.
Stretching the Season
If you really want to stretch your mum season:
Mix early-, mid-, and late-blooming varieties.
After blooming ends, transplant hardy mums in the garden. Some will come back next year.
Collect seeds from spent blooms and try starting your own.
Let’s Make This the Season of Mums
So there you have it, my playbook for turning a few pots of chrysanthemums into full-on fall magic. It’s amazing how these humble flowers can make a porch look like you planned an entire seasonal makeover (even if you just plopped them down with a pumpkin or two).
Now I want to know, how do you decorate with mums? Are you a classic golden-yellow kind of person, or do you mix it up with deep purples and whites? Drop your favorite color combos or your best mum display idea in the comments. I’d love to hear what your fall porch looks like this year!
