Spring Mum Plants: Complete Care Guide for Chrysanthemums

Overview

Spring-planted chrysanthemums (mums) produce ideal summer/fall flowers in yellow, pink, red, lavender, and brilliant orange. Pinch new shoots in May/June to prevent legginess and create bushy, bloom-heavy plants.

Planting Requirements

Sunny location, well-drained soil. Space 18 inches (dwarf) to 36 inches (vigorous). Keep moist, not waterlogged.

Fertilizing

Monthly in May, June, July with 5-10-10 or 5-20-20 granular (2-3 lbs/100 sq ft). Water in thoroughly. Stop when flower buds appear late July—fertilizer then promotes foliage over flowers.

Pinching

Pinch new growth when it appears. Leave 2-3 leaves on shoot; pinch tip. Monthly in May, June, July. Skip July pinch for early-blooming varieties to avoid removing flower heads.

Mulch, Weeds, Pests, Disease

Remove weeds promptly. 2-inch mulch (peat moss, sawdust, bark chips, recycled plastic) keeps roots cool/moist. Highly pest/disease resistant. Aphids: blast with water every few days. White powdery mildew: apply fungicide per label.

End-of-Season

Most treat mums as annuals—chop and discard after first hard frost. Till roots into soil for nutrients. Overwintered plants often produce poorly and become leggy.