02/12/2024
Ok this is TRULY the last of the heirloom mums until next year! I spent the holiday weekend cutting back and clearing out the mum beds and getting them tucked in for a cozy(ish) winter. Here in Atlanta (zone 7b- 8a depending on the year) I have had success overwintering many of my heirloom mums uncovered, but since these are precious varieties, I give them a little more of an insurance policy by covering them. Many people dig up and bring a mother plant inside to overwinter and take cuttings from, but my grow room space and my time don’t have room for that so time to toughen up baby!
My raised and in ground beds in backyard are covered with 4’ hoops made of metal electrical conduit (more in a separate post) but I wanted something lower and less obtrusive for the front yard. I’ve tried a variety of low hoops but found them to be flimsy, hard to clamp well and a pain to store. Last year, I tried the Low-Cat tunnel from and loved how easy they are to set up, take down and store (I am not a paid advertiser for them and purchased my kits). The stakes have loops that keep the frost cloth or greenhouse plastic in place with just a shock cord which makes it easy to raise and lower the sides on warmer days without the hassle of taking clamps on and off. I stretched the 40” stake set to cover a 4’ wide bed since the mums are so short and ordered a taller height kit for the tulip crates and early season dahlias. I will be giving away my other low tunnel hoops so if you’re local, let me know and they’re yours!
