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 The
garden chrysanthemum is one of the most exciting flowers that can be grown
in the home landscape for late summer and fall display. Garden mums require
a minimum amount of care and do well even under some adverse conditions.
There are cultivars (varieties) with color that range from white to yellow,
pink, bronze, red and their hues. With hundreds of cultivars available, the
choice of plants to grow is unlimited. To have a more interesting collection
of mums, however, plant cultivars of various types such as singles,
anemones, decoratives, pompons, spoons, spiders and standards.
 The
term garden mum applies to chrysanthemum cultivars that will flower
naturally in Ohio and be early enough to avoid a heavy frost. The term
"hardy" has been abandoned by most suppliers since hardiness of garden mum
cultivars may vary significantly from one season or area depending on
weather and previous cultural conditions.
Garden chrysanthemums are planted in the
spring from established cuttings. This is contrary to years ago when they
were offered primarily in the fall as clumps. Today the plants are being
sold along with annual flowers and vegetables. Most of the plants are sold
in pots that must be removed before planting. The plants generally have had
at least one pinch, which results in a well-branched plant.
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The site for planting should be well
drained and receive plenty of sunlight. The plants should be spaced 18 to 24
inches apart, and some of the more vigorous cultivars may need 30 to 36
inches. Enough space should be allowed so the plants can develop to their
maximum. Plant to the same depth they were growing in their containers and
no deeper. The plants should be thoroughly watered after planting.
 Fertilizing
the plants will develop good, green foliage with optimum flowering. Apply a
complete dry fertilizer such as 5-10-5, 5-10-10, 5-20-20 or equivalent at
the rate of two to three pounds per 100 square feet of bed area. The dry
fertilizer should be watered in after it is applied. Soluble fertilizers
such as 15-30-15, 20-20-20 are also quite satisfactory to use if desired.
Follow the rate of application on the package or container. Fertilization
can be discontinued after flower buds form in late July. As the plants grow,
they should be pinched to produce compact plants with more flowers. If this
isn't done, the plants will become tall and leggy. Also, if the plants
become quite tall, light will be excluded from the lower part of the plants,
resulting in unsightly dead leaves.
 New
shoots should have the tops removed by pinching them off between the thumb
and forefinger. This practice should be followed, leaving two or three
leaves on the shoot, whenever it becomes three to four inches long. This
practice can be timed so that the fertilizing and pinching can be done the
same day. This will usually be once a month from May-July. However, with
most garden cultivars, the last pinch should be made no later than August 1.
If pinching is continued after this date, flower buds will be eliminated
from the plants. It may be suggested with some cultivars that the last pinch
should not be made later than July 15. If it is, follow the directions
given. |
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 Weeds,
as with many other plants, may present a problem with growing garden
chrysanthemums. These can be removed by hand, or an organic mulch could be
used at the time of planting. Materials such as shredded bark, wood chips,
coarse peat moss, peanut hulls, sawdust, or straw will do a good job of
keeping the weeds down and conserving moisture in the soil if applied about
two inches deep. Organic matter that breaks down rapidly such as straw, will
require an extra application of fertilizer to compensate for the nitrogen
loss. Apply this fertilizer in addition to that which is applied for the
plants. However, you will only need to apply it a couple of times and then
stop. Pre-emergent herbicides which are labeled for such use can also be
effective if applied in early spring before weed seeds germinate. Landscape
fabrics and decorative gravel are also effective in weed control.
An important cultural practice with garden
chrysanthemums is applying adequate amounts of water. During some summers,
rainfall may be plentiful enough to eliminate most additional watering.
However, the plants should be watered when the soil starts to dry. Apply
enough water to soak the soil to a depth of four to six inches. This is best
done by using sprinklers rather than hand watering. It is best to apply the
water during the day so the foliage will dry off before nightfall.
Otherwise, leaf and flower diseases can become a problem.
 Fortunately
for garden chrysanthemum growers, most insect and disease problems are
controllable. The common insect pests are aphids, two spotted mites, and
powdery mildew which can usually be controlled by spraying or dusting with
labeled products. One disease that cannot be controlled with chemicals is
verticillium wilt. Avoid planting in verticillium contaminated areas for
several years. |
