A Garden Guide for How to Grow Chrysanthemums

Grow chrysanthemums to add bold color and variety to your garden or landscape. These Chinese natives have been in cultivation for over 2000 years, according to the Purdue University horticulture department. During this lengthy period of cultivation, horticulturalists and plant breeders have developed numerous cultivated varieties with a vast array of flower colors, shapes and sizes. A fence is always important for your flower garden, so install a fence around your chrysanthemums flower garden

Chrysanthemums come in garden varieties and florist varieties. Florist varieties are not cold-hardy and are better suited for the greenhouse. Pick a garden-variety chrysanthemum for growing in the landscape.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Garden fork
• Shovel
• Compost, peat or manure
• Fertilizer
• Mulch
• Pruning shears

1. Plant chrysanthemums in a spot that gets at least six hours of sun a day. Spring is the best time to plant in areas that freeze in winter. In mild climates, plant chrysanthemums in spring or fall. You can plant in summer, but pick a cool day to minimize the possibility of transplant stress.

2. Clear the garden bed and amend the soil before planting chrysanthemums. Pull out weeds and clear weed roots, rocks and sticks. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, seasoned manure or peat moss over the planting area. Using a garden fork, work the organic matter into the soil 8 to 12 inches deep.

3. Add fertilizer to the planting area before planting chrysanthemums. Use a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer as directed on the package label. Mix the fertilizer into the soil thoroughly with the organic amendment material.

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4. Plant chrysanthemums 18 to 24 inches apart. Dig the planting holes in the amended garden bed slightly wider as deep as the nursery pots. Slide the chrysanthemum out of the nursery pot and place it upright in the center of the hole.

5. Replace extra soil around the root ball and pat down the area. Continue planting until all the chrysanthemums are in the ground and then water planting bed. Soak each plant until it is damp at least to the bottom of the planting holes.

6. Water chrysanthemums when the top 1 inch of the soil is dry. Insert your index finger into the soil at the base of a plant to test the moisture levels in the soil. Soak each plant until it is evenly damp down at least 4 inches.

7. Fertilize once a month using the same 10-10-10 fertilizer. Pick a brand that is water soluble and apply as directed on the package label. Stop fertilizing in late summer. Chrysanthemums fertilized in the fall develop new growth late in the season reducing winter hardiness.

8. Mulch garden chrysanthemums in fall before the first hard freeze. Spread 4 to 6 inches of straw, pine bark or sawdust around each plant.

9. Cut back the old foliage in spring. Clip the dead stalks at the soil line but be careful not to damage any new green growth.

 

Tips & Warnings

• Chrysanthemums grow best in a soil pH of 6.5.
• For best flowering, plant chrysanthemums away from lights that stay on all night. According to the Iowa State University, chrysanthemums bloom best when they are not subjected to lights at night.

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