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Cutting back mums

JaimeK (zone 7 NY)

6 years ago

Last week I was talking with the owner of my local garden store and she said I should be cutting back my mums so they don't grow tall and flip over. She said I should have done it in June but do it when i got home, so I did, and now they look 1/2 dead. The remaining Leaves are dying... did I ruin them?

Featured Answer

barbarag_happy

6 years ago

And to clarify, it should be a light pinching all over. Can be done with shears.

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Comments (7)

bossyvossy
6 years ago
They will bounce back and should rebloom in fall. Don't overwater, as less plant needs less. Next year you'll know to prune in June so no great sin committed.
Embothrium
6 years ago
Sounds like you cut off too much. Next time just pinch out or cut off the tips, all you are trying to do is cause additional branching. If it looks like you are not getting as much branching as desired, do it more than once per year. But never late enough that it will interfere with flowering. For additional details try searching "pinching chrysanthemums" or other phrases that might work.
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Shadyplaces, I have an Aconitum that has not bloomed yet, so have never thought of cutting it back. I think I need to move it to more sun. Ispahan, that's interesting. I would have thought they would have bloomed sooner. Kevin, you sound like me. In any given growing season, I'm doing the same thing. Wanting to order something, not getting around to it, getting a plant that surprises you the way it grows, trying to solve the problem, then maybe it's not good enough of a solve, worrying about the weather for the plant, and then dodging the bullet on it. A very typical growing season. [g] That's a great looking Dahlia! And look at all the buds! I do understand the attraction to the really large and eye catching blooms on the taller Dahlias. If I had more sun, I am sure I would give them more of a try.
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YEs.....And I know that we are supposed to cut the mums back......But from now on, I will NEVER cut back another of my mums again......Every-time I've tried this, they get scraglier, and stringier looking. However, when I just leave them alone and let em' bloom, I get big beautiful round, perfect shrubs. Loaded with flowers. For about 4 years in a row I tried cutting back mums. I will now let them take their natural course. Of course, if one has a suggestion on anything I may be doing wrong I mught try it again on a few of my mums this year.
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Comments (18)
I have a question... One of my mums is pretty large, starting to bloom. However it has gotten so large that the front half of it wants to fall over because it sits on a hill and a few pieces have broken off... Should I cut off pieces that still want to fall or just let nature take its course? ALso it already has a bunch of blooms on it but would really like the fall color ...is it to late to pinch back? If not, how much should I pinch off? Thank you
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Cutting back mums
Q
Comments (2)
Hmmm, I'd go ahead and shear .... but others may have a different opinion.
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bossyvossy
6 years ago
I cut them to about 3" from soil. I am in Houston TX area so that might be a factor. Had the same plant 3-5 years but it outgrew its container. Transplanted inground and it didn't come back.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
if you are forcing them for fall bloom ... then you should cut them back 3 times ... forcing them to bush out.. and bloom later ...

otherwise you could just let them bloom when they usually do ... and if not pruned into the bush form.. yes.. they would flop ...

when mine got to 6 inches.. i cut them back to 3... then when they grew 6 more inches.. to 9 inches .. i cut them back again 3 inches ... etc ... by about 9/1 .. in my MI ... they were a nice mound ... and i would let them be.. to bloom in late sept or oct ....

you are coming in kind of late.. to have gone back to 3 inches .... but with no insult to the roots .. i dont see why they shouldn't reflush in a week or 3 .... think in plant time.. they will react in their own time ... and you might want to cut them back 3 inches.. in about 4 weeks ... and in your zone.. maybe one more time in sept.. but i would defer to peeps more local to your zone .. [and note.. not cut back to 3 inches.. just cut off 3 inches ...]

you might be able to find some videos on a search engine of your choice ...

ken
schoolhouse_gw
6 years ago
Oh, didn't see this thread, posted on the other one. Thanks.
barbarag_happy
6 years ago
Here in 8a SE Virginia, repeated cutting back is necessary. So I just don't mess with 'em anymore!

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