Healthy, sturdy, and bursting with blooms in a range of harvest colors, Payne's chrysanthemums are ready to bring bright colors to autumn planting. The most popular types — single daisy-flowered forms, pompons, and anemone types with slightly raised centers — are fully hardy in Northern New Mexico, and may be planted outdoors now or when they've finished blooming.
  Most chrysanthemums are largely the descendants of wild plants native to China and Japan. They prefer full sun, regular watering, and a well-drained, compost enriched soil to which a slow-release organic fertilizer has been added. Keep in mind that mums also do well in tubs as well as color bowls.

When the mums have finished blooming, cut the flowers off just below the heads, leaving as much stem as possible. Mums need both their stems and their leaves left on so they can keep photosynthesizing to store enough energy for the long, cold winter ahead. Gently remove the mums from their pots, shake or soak the soil from their roots, and replant.

 After replanting, make a well of soil around the plants, then water them in thoroughly ( a little SuperThrive™ in the water will help the mums handle transplant shock. Keep watering 3 times a week as long as the soil remains unfrozen. After the first serious frost, mulch the mums  with a 4-inch deep layer of straw or compost. Take care to keep the mulch about 3 inches away from the crown of the plants to discourage fungus diseases.

Be optimistic and believe we will have enough snow that will cover up plants, then mark the mums so they don't get trompeled during the winter and early spring.When the first new shoots emerge from the soil in spring, it's OK to remove the dead aboveground portions of the plants and fertilize them again. Keep them watered and they should come up bigger and better than ever, bringing a wealth of beauty next fall.