The leaves of chrysanthemums will die back and become brown after a few hard frosts have hit your area. After the foliage has died back, you will need to cut it back. Cut back the stems of the mums to 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm.) above the ground. If plants get leggy or floppy later in summer, cut back by 1/3 to reshape. Stop pruning 6-8 weeks before your desired bloom time to allow flower buds to set. Stake tall varieties that need extra support using soft plant ties. Proper technique is key for getting the best results.
Chrysanthemums bring fresh vibrancy to borders and containers through late summer and autumn. They make colorful, long-lasting cuts. Make a clean cut on the bottom and insert each cutting around the edge of a pot of good quality potting medium. Make sure the cuttings are moist but not soggy – keep them with propagator.
The best time to prune mums in your garden is in spring to remove dead foliage. Trim to within a couple inches of the soil surface. Remove all dead material that feels dried and brittle. If the mum stem bends instead of snaps, it is not dead and may come back.
Start pinching stems in spring when the plants have reached a height of about 6 inches in length. Start pinching or cutting back chrysanthemums from the time they start to grow in the spring, and make their last pinch or last cut around the fourth of July.
First, leave the foliage on the plants until spring. Do not prune them back after frost has turned them brown. Research reveals that allowing it to die back allows the plant to grow naturally. After a frost, provide a light airy mulch of evergreen branches or similar. A general rule of thumb is to cut back to where you see new growth beginning (the green parts of the stem)
📹 Pruning Your Chrysanthemums- It’ll Take MONTHS!
I made sure to prune my my mums this year! Once your mums come out of dormancy they must be pruned and pruned well.
📹 Tips To Help Mums Survive The Winter, Should I Cut My Mums Down In The Fall Time
I wanted to give some tips on how to help your mums survive the winter. I will be talking about when the best time to cut your …
Thank you! I am trying to keep my Fall Mums thru the winter this year. I bought and planted them as soon as they started arriving in the stores knowing they would not be in bloom all Fall but may just get established before Winter arrived. I wasn’t sure if I should leave the old stems or cut them back. A lot of articles say to cut them back. I left mine thinking it would help protect them from the ice and snow laying directly on the root ball below the ground. I sure hope this works. I love the colors of Fall Mums and have only had luck with buying and planting Mums in the Spring. Then by winter they are well established. Unfortunately you can only find purple and yellow in the spring. Fingers crossed my Autumn colored Mums make it thru this Winter. Thanks again! You have given me hope. Mums the word.