Need Advice on my Mums

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
sherlyn Clifton Hill, MO May 28, 2012

I didn't get around to pinching back my mums and they are now blooming out. They are about a foot tall. Can I cut them back about halfway to make them bushy or is it too late? What do I do now?Thanks for your help.

Post #9142470
Quote
flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) May 28, 2012

I always do one shearing right before 4th of July, they always seem to bud again and bloom

Post #9142583
Quote
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) May 29, 2012

Same here. After that first Spring bloom, I cut mine down to about 6-8 inches and they reliably bloom again late summer/early fall.

Post #9143866
Quote
sherlyn Clifton Hill, MO May 31, 2012

Thanks for your help.

Post #9145879
Quote
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) May 31, 2012

Surely. Glad to help.

Post #9146020
Quote
FlowerUnit FURLONG, PA Aug 20, 2012

Mum question. Does it matter if you clip your mums in the spring with a hedge trimmer to do it quickly and to help provide a better shape, or must you really pinch each bud by hand? I have only seen advice that mentions "pinching" but I have so many plants now, I decided to clip them quickly with my hedge trimmer. I did this in early June,and then again in mid-July. But as it is now mid-August, I was surprised to find no buds. Did I goof? or will the buds return this year in time for a nice fall bloom.
To summarize, is clipping OK, or have I committed a mortal error of clipping rather than pinching.

Post #9248246
Quote
flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 20, 2012

I use grass shears and do it all at once, hasn't hurt them a bit

Post #9248277
Quote
ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 20, 2012

I think your problem is the mid-July trimming time, not necessarily the hedge trimmer (although if you sheared them back a bit too far, that could contribute as well). You're only about a month past your last trimming so that's probably not enough time for them to make buds yet (as long as you didn't trim them back too far I think you could still get blooms this year, just a little later than you'd hoped) Next year if you want them blooming sooner, I'd stop trimming/shearing/pinching after the 4th of July and see if that helps.

Post #9248280
Quote
warriorswisdomkathy Kiowa, CO(Zone 5b) Aug 20, 2012

Yup July 4th is the normal last trim/pinch for me too. I usually start pinching as soon as the growth is 4" or so, every week til July 4 (or the week of). I wish I had pix of one plant I had several year ago, it was 4ftx4ft and no green could be seen as the blooms were SOOOO prolihic.

Thumbnail by warriorswisdomkathy
Post #9248498
Quote
mitchel23 Phoenix, AZ Jun 06, 2022

I use Hedge shears to cut when they grow tall.

Post #10536596
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP