A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2002 cutting back mums

[*]cutting back mums[/LIST]
I have groups of mums which I planted last
spring.The old stalks that are left are still
green but new plants are coming up at the
bottom. Should I cut them back now or wait
for the old stalks to die.
I am in zone 9a.

If the old stalks are unsightly, it will not hurt the plant to cut them back now. I cut mine back as soon as they are done blooming.

Thanks for the feedback Acanthus.
I did go ahead and cut the stalks because
they were so dry when I bent them they
broke even tho they were still green.
The new mums coming up are looking real good.

Gene

Gene, you are most welcome, glad to help!

In general, as soon as the first blooms on mine turn brown, I cut of the old blooms and try for a second flush of color. After that, as soon as I see no more bud production, and the weather's turned cold anyway, I cut all the stems down to the base plant and wait for next year.

I love the daisy form mums, especially the white ones.