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Forgot to cut back planted mum plants in the fall. Can I do it now?

Jacquie Preston

6 years ago

Hello. We did quite a bit of landscape work around our home last summer and fall. One of the things we did was to plant four mum plants in the front of the house in late summer. They seemed to have taken root, because they lasted until first frost. Problem is, I forgot to cut them back in the fall, so the dried out plants remain in the ground. Can I cut them back now, or are they a lost cause? Hoping someone here can help me out. Thank you.

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

I’ve always cut mine back during early spring, as soon as I see new growth. I usually did it while working in the beds, and would just snap off the dead growth by hand.

It’s fine. :)

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Comments (8)

bossyvossy
6 years ago
Yes you can
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nana- OMG YES -It's 12 days too late! LOL I bet they would do ok it trimmed now.... only one way to find out! WHy do you need to trim them? I first heard the 4th of July thing back in the days of tall chrysanthemums.... if you didn't pinch them a couple times you would have to stake them since they got four feet tall by the time they bloomed... the kinds that are sold today are self branching and stay much shorter. Do you want to 'reset' the blooms? Maybe if you keep up with deadheading they'll last into the fall?
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debndulcy, The best thing you can do is just be patient. It's going to take a few years before your new plants will take off. You have to consider that you've just taken away your plants access to nutrients and it has to start all over just like a seed would. Look at how many roots are on the plants you buy, this doesn't happen overnight it takes a long time and a lot of man hours to get those plants looking that good.Then look at how few roots are on your cuttings. You've already done the hard part now just take good care of them for about 2 or 3 years they will be fine. Regular fertilizing and watering is the fastest way along with long hours of light. Long hours under lights will make the difference I'm sure. I have some hydrangea cuttings that I've been nursing for 2 years and they may finally be able to be put in the ground next year. I hope. I just stuck some mum cuttings about 3 or 4 weeks ago and still have my fingers crossed. Anyway Good Luck and just have fun with it.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Just so you know, depending on your location, not all chrysanthemums, and especially many of the late summer or fall "color spots", will be reliably perennial.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
This is one type of fancy mum, couldn’t keep alive potted or inground beyond a season

The kind you get at WM, HD, and garden centers, have been growing for me inground or potted for years. Common red, yellow, orange white pink (pink being the weakest)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
And they do for me as well :-) But both you and I live in pretty mild winter climates, which may not be the case for the OP.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
hi

welcome to the forums ... always add your location.. it often matters.. as the answers above note ...

i always left mums for spring cleaning ... its like they self mulched themselves for winter ... and it helped me know where a new plant was located .. after a long forgetful winter ...

ken
dowlinggram
6 years ago
I never cut anything back until the spring. I live in zone 4 and we have very cold weather and snow. Leaving the dead flower stalks and plants catches the snow and piles it around the plant. That helps protect the roots. If I cut them back the wind would whiz the snow across my flower beds and pile it where it does no good for my plants. This works for all plants that die back in winter.

I wait until my plants start to show new growth and then begin my cleanup
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
just btw ... they are perennials.. you posted this in the annuals forum .. no big deal ... and of course.. you got your answer.. so bazinga ...

ken

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