Sunday, February 5, 2012

A question about mums: Should I cut off the dead stems?

Or are they like hydrangeas which spring from the dead stalks?
A question about mums: Should I cut off the dead stems?
Yes, cut them right back to the ground at this time of year. Prune your new growth back to the first set of leaves. Prune twice and you will have a flowery show in the fall. If you don't prune, your mums will look straggly.
Reply:Mums grow new sprouts from the crown of the plant. By all means cut the dead sticks to the ground as soon as you can. The longer you waitm new growth will appear and make it more difficult to not cut the new growth too. Actually, the sticks should break right off. Be sure to pinch out the tops when they are about 6" tall to make the plant bushier, otherwise you have a long branch that when in bloom the weight of it tends to make them lay on the ground when it rains. besides, why have just one bloom per stem when you could have more? I'm a landscaper in Ohio and I pinch mine back a couple of times before the 4th of July so they will be nice bushy plants by fall.
Reply:LOL. I am very tired and when I first read your question I thought you were talking like the British talk about their mothers and thought you had a screw loose. Then I had a DUH!!! moment and it was me who had the screw loose. LOL.
Reply:Yes, cut them off

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