How and When to Cut Back Mums for the Best Blooms
- Timing: Cut back mums in early spring, just as new growth begins to appear.
- Technique: Trim off dead, damaged, or diseased stems first.
- Height: Cut stems back to about 4-6 inches above the ground.
- Tools: Use clean, sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts.
- Pinching: Throughout spring and early summer, pinch off the tips of new growth to encourage bushiness.
- Stop pinching: Cease pinching by mid-July to allow flower buds to form.
- Fall care: After blooming, leave the foliage intact to protect the plant through winter.
