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Annuals/hardy mums

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Expert: - 5/13/2009


Question
Hi,I live in New Jersey.Last spring I planted some beautiful purple mums.I took them out of their pots and put them in the ground.I didn't touch them all winter. I didn't know they would grow back.They currently look large but do not have any flowers.Here's my question.Will they blossom or should I dig them up. Keep in mind,that I know absolutely nothing about plants but I loved these mums. Thanks for your time.

Answer
Diane,
They will bloom again later in the summer or early fall. Here is what to do now: at the end of this month or in early June, take a scissors and cut the top 2" off each stalk. This will make the plant create side branches so it will be bushier and more filled with flowers when it blooms. Other than this, mums are pretty care-free. If you go two weeks without rain, however, water them well.

I hope this helps!
C.L.

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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