How to Care for Chrysanthemums

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Fall is the perfect season for growing chrysanthemums. It is when they put on their most colorful show, and they seem to prefer the cooler temps fall provides. If you would like to grow and enjoy some chrysanthemums, or “mums” this year, take a look below at some helpful tips on how to care for chrysanthemums. They are quite easy to care for, and the results can be so colorful and stunning. Take a look!

1. Grow them on the side.
What we mean by this is, plant the mums close to the home if not directly on the side of the home. It will help them adapt to the climate changes and give them more protection from the elements such as wind and rain. If you can’t plant them in such a space, try them in a flower bed or shrub bed where they will be offered some protection.

2. Divide them every three years.
As mums grow, they can become crowded within themselves. Divide the plants every three years to offer plenty of space. Otherwise, the plant can become crowded and eventually die off. You can replant the separated plant in other areas of your yard if you wish or give them away.

3. “Pinch” as needed.
When you pinch your mums, you are pinching off new growth. Do this when the growth reaches about 4 inches in length. You don’t want new growth to get longer than 6 inches, or the shrub will take on a skinny and spindle like shape. Pinching keeps it full. As the plant blooms, be sure to also pinch off dead blooms. This will help the plant conserve its energy for new growth instead of trying to heal dead growth.

4. Help them become hardy.
If you live in a cooler climate, choose “hardy” mums as they are a stronger variety. You also want to put the plant into the ground a good six weeks before the first frost of the season. These steps will help insure that the plant will regrow the following season. If you really want to help your mums become hardy, plant them in the spring so they have plenty of time to get established before cool weather hits.

5. Water and fertilize conservatively.
Mums require good drainage and don’t like to be soaked. Water as needed to keep the soil moist. Fertilize once in the spring and one more time in the fall. You don’t need to do feedings in between. Use a standard plant food or outdoor plant fertilizer for this step.

When you give these tips a try, you can grow chrysanthemums that are colorful, hardy, and sure to put on a show year after year. Give these tips a try and see what a difference they make to your own plants.