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Just planted my clumps... do you let them bloom or cut them down?

16 years ago

Since I am new to DL's I am not sure what to do. I planted 4 clumps yesterday and even though the leaves are yellowish and somewhat drying up, there are several blooms still on the scapes. Will it hurt the plant if I let it continue to bloom or should I cut it down???

Also, I bought those metal yard markers... If I use a sharpie permanent marker, will it withstand the elements.... (we get lots of snow here in MN)... lol

Thanks

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Comments (6)

okbt
16 years ago
The outer leaves will die off and be replaced with new growth. The smart and right thing to do? Cut the scapes.The plant will become stronger and establish much more quickly. I am no expert,and grow mainly for pleasure,so I let mine bloom. It is still early enough that they should be ok.
Use a paint pen on the markers.Some print labels with a laser printer. Last fall I used a pencil and made labels from white address labels and covered them with clear labels on the metal markers. So far they are like new,so I expect a few years out of them.

Betsy
carmen_grower_2007
16 years ago
Pencil yes, Sharpie no. The Sharpie permanent marker will fade to nothing in the sun. A pencil is forever until you can get something permanent.
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I'm no expert, but agree with calliope. I have one similiar in shape to yours. I'd asked the cutting back question last year, since Mom always said "keep cutting back until 4th of July (you're right, Ken) but that was for ones that get all tall and leggy. I was told this type (or at least mine) is called a 'cushion mum' and bred to remain compact and rounded. I never cut mine back (except for initial cutting it down after dying) and it blooms magnificantly throughout the season. Here's a pic of mine (bad quality) late in the season (fall?) as it was dying off. You'll notice it did start to lay down and have a gap in the center, but because if you'll notice, there's a dark semi-circle thing above it which is a giant bush. And if I don't keep THAT trimmed back, it crowds out and shades the mum so it can't grow in a full 'cushion' shape. But other than that, you can see it kept its rounded shape all season, never got leggy. I haven't tried the pinching back after first bloom but will try that this year, since later on it does start to look pretty shabby so TKS calliope for that hint!! Also, just checked mine out and it's dead inside NOW but you say it's advised not to pinch back now. So I gather these types are not made to rebloom if I cut it back now?? (I'm sure you answered that, but can't see your response now).
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mizellie
16 years ago
Wal Mart sells a painter pen ( fine point) in the craft dept. that works fine. It depend on the texture of the label as to how long it will hold. The rougher texture works better because it ( the painter pen ) gets in the grain. I use those sometimes but they do not look very neat unless you are a fine printer. I'm not. I am very sloppy...Ellie
highjack
16 years ago
Use the Painters Pen on the one side so you can read it standing up but use a lead pencil for the other side in case it fades. I use the Painters Pen on pvc pipe to mark seedlings planted in the display area and have had some of them unblemished for three years now. The part of the pipe pounded into the ground has the ID written with pencil and when I pull it out, you can read that too.

The pvc aren't the prettiest markers but it tells you immediately if the cultivar is registered or a seedling - no guessing because of the distinction between the markers.

Brooke
thechasman
16 years ago
I have used China Markers (grease pencil) with success. Brooke, I like the idea of the different markers for registered plants and seedlings. Great idea.

Charlie
highjack
16 years ago
You know the old saying Charlie, mother is the necessity of invention. I first did it with a bunch of hosta seedlings I wanted in the ground and out of their pots. Since we use the pvc for the daylily seedling patch we had a bunch of pvc around so I swiped that, cut it off, and made the temporary labels. From there, it was the marker of choice for a seedling in the display area.

To show how lazy and cheap I am, you can use the pipe twice. When I eliminate something, I turn the pipe and write with the Painters Pen in the area previously written with pencil and vice versa.

Brooke

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