We all enjoy the colorful mums in the fall. They replace the summer flowers that have finished blooming and bring prospects of cooler weather. Many do not realize they are an easy perennial to grow that comes back every year. There are a few guidelines to help us have better plants and flowers.
First, when buying mums, select tight, almost totally closed buds that are showing only a tiny bit of color so that your selection is assured. Try to find plants of uniform size if you intend to use several in one bed to keep display uniform. As with most flowering plants, give them adequate fertilizer and water. Mums will continue to bloom after a light frost but the foliage and the flowers will begin to show some browning around the edges. After the mums have finished blooming and the foliage turns brown, it’s best to cut dead stems to the ground in late winter and let new leaves sprout from underground roots.
As they begin to grow next season, it is advisable to keep the tips pruned back so that they will not bloom again in the spring. A spring bloom is not advisable if you wish to achieve the best flowering fall mums. If left to grow, they will have long, floppy stems with small, sparse flowers. In mid-spring, prune again, cutting away any new flower buds and leave only about 8 inches of new growth. In mid-summer some additional pinching of soft tips can be done to insure uniform growth. Do not prune again after the end of July as they will be setting buds for the fall. To have bigger blooms in the fall, some the buds can be removed. You will have fewer but larger flowers.
The mums will reward you with an amazing display.
First, when buying mums, select tight, almost totally closed buds that are showing only a tiny bit of color so that your selection is assured. Try to find plants of uniform size if you intend to use several in one bed to keep display uniform. As with most flowering plants, give them adequate fertilizer and water. Mums will continue to bloom after a light frost but the foliage and the flowers will begin to show some browning around the edges. After the mums have finished blooming and the foliage turns brown, it’s best to cut dead stems to the ground in late winter and let new leaves sprout from underground roots.
As they begin to grow next season, it is advisable to keep the tips pruned back so that they will not bloom again in the spring. A spring bloom is not advisable if you wish to achieve the best flowering fall mums. If left to grow, they will have long, floppy stems with small, sparse flowers. In mid-spring, prune again, cutting away any new flower buds and leave only about 8 inches of new growth. In mid-summer some additional pinching of soft tips can be done to insure uniform growth. Do not prune again after the end of July as they will be setting buds for the fall. To have bigger blooms in the fall, some the buds can be removed. You will have fewer but larger flowers.
The mums will reward you with an amazing display.