Chrysanthemums
Keeping Your Mums Healthy
Chrysanthemums are a colorful highlight of the garden in late summer and fall when many other flowers have faded.
These hardy plants belong to the daisy family and are native to China, Japan, Northern Africa and Southern Europe.
Choose the Type that Best Suits Your Landscape
Their flowers come in a huge variety of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, burgundy & white!
There are many different flower forms, including single, semi-double & double blooms, as well as different petal shapes and formations.
All mums are suitable for borders and cutting gardens and pair well with fall annuals, perennials and ornamental grasses.
Select an Ideal Location to Plant
Thankfully, mums require a minimum amount of care. Be sure to choose a planting site in full sun that is fertile and moist but has well-drained soil.
Give them plenty of room to grow in rich soil and you’ll have some happy flowers!
Provide Care Before, During, & After Bloom Period
This care applies to hardy mums planted directly in the ground, not mums grown in containers.
Hardy varieties are pinched regularly until the middle or end of July. The tips are taken off all shoots as soon as they attain a length of six inches.
Water freely in dry weather and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 7-10 days from mid-summer until buds begin to show color.
When mums have finished blooming for the season, cover them with three inches of straw or mulch. They may even be cut down to soil level after blooming.
Regularly Inspect Your Plants
Mums have very few problems when it comes to pests and disease, but it's always helpful to keep a watchful eye and treat any issues as soon as possible.
Though not very common, if you're having trouble with your plants, we're happy to help! Stop by any of our garden centers for advice and treatment tips.
Propagate & Enjoy!
To propagate, divide clumps in fall or early spring. For late flowering varieties, take cuttings after the flowers have faded. For earlier varieties take cuttings in early spring.
Root the cuttings in a soilless potting mix with a layer of dry sand on the surface. Cuttings rooted in winter should be protected indoors or in a cold frame until spring, when they can be hardened off.
Mums are a dependable, low-maintenance addition to any fall garden, offering bold color when many plants are winding down. By following simple care steps, you can enjoy healthy, thriving plants season after season. A little attention now goes a long way toward a stunning autumn display!