| Issue #27, September 29, 2006 |
The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine
Garden Mum–ification
I love a group of well-cultivated, colorful mums in the garden landscape! Oh, not those corporate-looking plants that have been shaped to within an inch of their lives, but plants cultivated to fit an informal landscape.
While many people find mums undesirable because of over-shearing, they have enormous potential as flowers in the fall landscape. They are one of the more versatile and dependable plants when properly cultivated, and provide great color at a time of year when things are generally on a downward spiral.
Chrysanthemums are part of the daisy family of plants (Asteraceae ) and are thought to have originated in the Orient or northern Africa. Their name is actually a contraction of two Greek words: “krus anthemon,” meaning “gold flower.” Records show the plant has been cultivated for nearly 5,000 years. It is also the emblem of the Japanese imperial family. It is the most popular plant in all of Asia-Pacific.
Mums were introduced to England in the late 18th century and have been cultivated and hybrid there ever since. In typical English style, there are innumerable, specific cultivars available. Popular garden varieties evolved from a parent named C. morifolium, which was a species of indeterminate origin that no longer exists in the wild. Flowers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, e.g., spherical, tubular, spoon-shaped, or Anemone-like. Colors range from oranges/ bronzes, to whites, pinks/purples, yellows, and reds. They also come in sizes from tiny to very large (the tinier varieties are generally suitable for landscape planting).
Chrysanthemums will grow in virtually any type of soil. They are happiest when they have very good drainage and the addition of organic material such as manure, compost, leaf mold, or peat moss. The addition of super-phosphate, gypsum, and/or dolomite lime helps the plants do well since they like some alkalinity. They grow and perform best when planted in a full sun location, though they perform adequately in partial-sun conditions. (Full shade will produce lovely leaves, but few flowers.)
Probably the best way to start with mums is to purchase stock in late summer when the plants are first available at nurseries. Planting in late summer provides sufficient time for the plants to acclimate and to grow new roots. Planting later than the beginning of September produces will provide lovely blooms this year, but is likely to yield mixed results next year. (Mums are not very cold hardy on the East End.) If you decide to plant now or later, be sure to mulch the plants heavily this winter with peat or dehydrated manure to protect the roots. When planting, make sure the base of the plant resides no deeper than the soil level in which it currently grows.
While you may want the globular looking mums, if you prefer to have a more “perennial” look, wait until the plants achieve a height of about 10 inches tall. This usually occurs early-to-mid-July in our location. At this point, prune the stalks back to about six inches tall, but be sure to leave some green foliage and growth below the cuts. This will produce shorter plants and a better display of foliage at bloom time. In pruning, you can shape the mum into a particular form, or cut at various heights to produce a more informal effect.
When the plant resumes growth after cutting back, remove the tip portion of the stems to promote more branching and abundant flowers. If you grow the larger sized mum, do not pinch them back past the last week in July; smaller-sized flowering types should not be pinched back after mid August. Keep in mind that an earlier pinch date provides earlier blooms.
Regular use of a high nitrogen/potassium fertilizer will generally increase both the number and size of flowers. We recommend a slow release fertilizer in spring, plus monthly feedings of an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion. Stop all fertilizers at the end of August.
Mums can be susceptible to some types of insect infestations, especially aphids. Use a general purpose insecticide if you notice any infestations – but only use the same type of insecticide for three times before changing, as insects can become resistant. Insecticidal soaps and oils are effective, but should not be used on blooms.
We believe that mums deserve a place in every garden. One need not have those round mounds that stick out, and well-cultivated mums provide a wonderful addition to the fall garden. Why not reconsider?
You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.
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