Can Mums Survive Frost? How to Protect Them From a Dangerous Cold Snap Keep these beautiful fall blooms thriving—even when the temperature drops. Close Credit: Getty / Mariya Spiridonova Key Points Protecting your mums from frost helps them stay colorful longer and ensures they return strong next season.Move container mums indoors before a freeze, or cover them overnight with boxes or blankets for quick protection.Mulch and delay pruning in-ground mums until spring to help them survive winter and bloom again. We all love the beauty and color that mums add to the autumn season. However, an early frost can wreak havoc on these beloved blooms. Protecting them can help extend their lifespan, so that they continue to thrive in your garden even when the temperatures start to really dip. There are a few different steps you can take to safeguard your mums from frost—below, a few that experts recommend. Lorraine Ballato, a garden and hydrangea expert, and the award-winning author of Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener's Guide Laura Irish-Hanson, horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension 7 Fall Gardening Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Perennials—and What to Do Instead Choose Cold-Hardy Varieties Here's an important distinction when it comes to mums: florist mums are grown as annuals and are hardy only in the warmest zones, while perennial mums are hardier. Both types may be able to tolerate a light frost, but a harder frost or freeze is another story. "If they are left outdoors during a hard frost, the flowers may start turning brown and not last as long," says Laura Irish-Hanson, a horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota Extension. A perennial garden mum will still have its blooms damaged or killed by a freeze, but the plant itself will survive and bloom again in the spring. Annual florist mums are unlikely to survive. You might see frost develop on surfaces even if the air temperature doesn't fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. These types of frosts may or may not bother your mums. Colder temperatures bring true freezes that are more damaging. Move Them Indoors If your mums are in containers, then it's a very simple matter to avoid frosts temporarily. "Annual mums are quite susceptible to damage from cold temperatures," notes Irish-Hanson. "If a frost is in the forecast, you can bring them into a protected space, like a well-insulated garage, or into a home." Cover Them Covering your mums for frost protection is fairly simple, and won't take much time. If forecasted overnight temperatures won't plunge much below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, then simple precautions may be enough to protect your mums until dawn. Source large cardboard boxes, turn them upside-down over the mums overnight, and remove them in the morning. Bedsheets or lightweight blankets can also serve as quick protection. "Make sure you leave the cover on until after the sun has risen; you can wait until the frost has melted from the neighboring plants as an indicator," says Irish-Hanson. Avoid plastic sheeting, as it can cause other issues. "Plants will lose precious moisture more quickly, and they need to breathe to stay alive," says Lorraine Ballato, a gardening author and hydrangea expert. "You could also spray them with an anti-desiccant, which will create a temporary shield." Don't Miss The Best Time to Plant Mums in Containers for Endless Fall Color 5 Ways to Make Mums Last Longer for Healthy, Beautiful Blooms All Season Care for Your In-Ground Mums You'll also want to consider how to keep in-ground perennial mums safe over the winter. Consider applying a heavy layer of mulch around the base for added insulation, then wait to prune back until spring. Another option is to transplant them into a container that you can house in a warm place for the winter, then return them to the soil in spring. Explore more: Garden Flower Gardens