Spring Mum Plants: Planting, Fertilizing, Pinching, and Care

Overview

Spring-planted chrysanthemums (mums) produce summer and fall flowers in yellow, pink, red, lavender, orange. Pinch new shoots in May–June to prevent legginess and create bushy plants with abundant fall blooms.

Planting Requirements

Sunny location, well-drained soil. Space dwarf varieties 18 inches apart; vigorous types 36 inches. Keep moist but not waterlogged.

Fertilizing

Monthly in May, June, July: granular 5-10-10 or 5-20-20 at 2–3 lbs per 100 sq ft. Water in thoroughly. Stop fertilizing after flower buds appear in late July—nitrogen promotes foliage over flowers.

Pinching

Pinch new shoots when they appear: remove tip, leave 2–3 leaves. Do this once per month in May, June, July. Skip July pinch for early-blooming varieties to avoid removing flower buds.

Mulch, Weeds, Pests, Diseases

Weed promptly. Mulch 2 inches (peat moss, sawdust, bark chips, recycled plastic) to keep roots cool/moist. Mums are pest/disease resistant. Aphids: blast with water every few days. Powdery mildew (white fungus): apply fungicide per label.

End-of-Season

Most treat mums as annuals. After hard frost, chop and discard. Till roots into soil for nutrients. Overwintered mums often have poor flowering and become leggy.