Mums arrive in fall with color already on them, so you get an instant display instead of waiting weeks for blooms. A 9-inch pot gives you enough reach to anchor a corner or fill a front-porch container, and the flowers keep coming through October if you keep the soil moist.

Plant in full sun and pinch back any leggy growth early in the season. Once it cools down, just water and enjoy—no fussing required.