What does it mean to pinch back mums?

Many gardeners "pinch back" their garden mums to maintain a more compact form. This simply means to prune the plant lightly. Everywhere you make a cut, new growth will emerge, making the plant fuller. This procedure usually begins in spring when the plants are about 6 to 8 inches tall.

How do I pinch back my mums?

To pinch back your mums, use your thumb and forefinger to snap off the terminal portion of each stem the plant produces. You can remove as many as half the total height of each stem, or you can choose to remove just the topmost growing point, if you want the plant to be taller.

How many times should mums be pinched?

The first pinch is in spring when returning plants are about 8 to 10-inches tall. If you are planting mums in the spring, start the first pinch 2-weeks after planting. The second pinch is done around the summer solstice. This is the longest day of the year.

What month do you cut back mums?

It's always best to cut mums back every spring shortly after they first begin to grow. Timing is everything. If you don't cut mums back in early spring, then they are more likely to produce a premature and disappointing period of poor bloom in summer and a lackluster season of poor bloom in fall.

How and when do you cut back mums?

After the foliage of the plant 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. Leaving a little bit of the stems will ensure that next year you have a full plant, as the new stems will grow from these trimmed stems.

Planting and Pinching Hardy Mums

Should I cut back mums in summer?

Really, the last part of June up to July 4th is a great time, but doing it much more into July risks your mum from not being able to re-produce blooms by Autumn's arrival. What ya do is quite simple: Pinch or take scissors and trim back your mums until they are about 4-6″ high from the ground.

How long do potted mums last?

Garden mums may be grown in containers, or planted in beds with existing shrubs and flowers. Flowers generally last about two or three weeks, depending on the outdoor temperatures and how far along the blooming process was when the plants were purchased.

Should you deadhead mums?

Deadhead often for lasting blooms. Take off wilted blooms and dead stems/leaves not only makes your mums look more beautiful, it helps your plant to bloom longer. Once your mums stop blooming, you can place them in the ground outdoors once the weather starts to warm.

Should I cut back mums before winter?

You may opt to wait and cut mums back in late winter or early spring when new green growth emerges or cut the plants back in late fall or early winter shortly after they finish blooming.

Can mums survive the winter in pots?

With potted mums, the first key is to never let them endure a freeze in their pot or container. Mums can survive light frosts and cold fairly easy, but a hard freeze can kill roots in pots permanently.

Why are my mums leggy?

If you plant your mums in a spot that receives too much shade, the stems may become leggy and then fall over while trying to reach sunlight. Find a garden spot that bathes your mums in sunlight to help keep stems from inordinately stretching too much.

What do you do with mums in the summer?

Ideally, mums should be cut back and pruned starting in early to mid-June. This keeps the plant more compact and full of foliage. And in the end, results in a thicker, bushier plant with more shoots for blooms. Without pruning, mums planted in the landscape tend to develop “leggy” bloom stems.

Should I cut back my mums in the spring?

As mums begin to grow through the spring and into summer, they're going to start producing buds. To get the most out of a mum, it's best to prune those buds, pinching them back until the time comes to let the plants develop new leaves, branches, and flowers. That way they'll look gorgeous next fall.

How does pinching back a plant such as chrysanthemum cause it to become more bushy?

Pinching Coleus

Start the pinching process by taking out the terminal bud of each stem. When pinching off the terminal bud, the plant no longer grows leggy, just more stalky and bushy. As you pinch back the terminal bud, twice the amount of leaves sprout out, creating even bushier plants.

How do I keep my mums from falling over?

To keep mums from flopping over under the weight of their bountiful fall flowers, keep the plants cut back to about 6 inches until late June or early July. Go ahead and shear them. You don't have to “pinch” each stem one by one as some people think.

How do I save my potted mums for next year?

Choose a mostly dark cool area, such as an unheated garage shed or basement, which has temperatures between 32 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures could fall below freezing, wrap the pots with several layers of newspaper to protect the roots. Water your mums so that the soil is slightly moist.

Do potted mums come back?

You will have some buds on them by then, but don't worry. They will grow back and your plant won't look dead in the middle." Many people buy mums in the fall thinking the plants are annuals. These people toss the mums in the trash once the blooms have faded.

How do you prepare mums for winter?

Prepare mums for winter after the first hard frost. Mulch up to 4 inches with straw or shredded hardwood around the plants. Pinch off dead blooms to clean up the plant, but leave branches intact. Mums have a better chance of surviving if you wait to prune old stems until spring.

Do mums bloom more than once in a season?

It's possible for chrysanthemums to bloom twice a season. But it's uncommon, because it usually takes some serious human intervention to force blooms twice.

How do you maintain mums?

Do you plant mums in the sun or shade?

Chrysanthemums are sun-loving plants. Although they technically require only 6 hours of sunlight each day, the more light they receive, the better their growth, bloom and hardiness. Slight shade in hot, summer afternoons is appropriate in warmer gardening zones to prevent scorching.

How often should I water potted mums?

Don't let your mums get too dry or wilt between waterings. Water your potted mums at least every other day. They like to get about 1 inch of water per week. Water at the soil level (the base of the plant) and not on top of the foliage.

How do you care for outdoor mums in pots?

Care of Mums in Pots

While your plant is in its container, keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet. Mums are thirsty plants, so check them for moisture often. Water them during the morning, so that the leaves have time to dry during the day. Never allow them to wilt.

How do you keep potted mums blooming?