Chrysanthemums

Spring planting reaps rewards in the fall.

Chrysanthemums enjoy new places in which to bloom each year. You can successfully divide older plants and locate in a new bed.

Chrysanthemums should be planted in the spring, but you'll enjoy their flowers during the fall.

New plants will produce the best chrysanthemums, but old plants can be used if you divide them by cutting away the outer shoots.

Chrysanthemums like soil that is well-drained and although they will grow in almost any kind of soil, they perform best in soil with a high organic content. And, your chrysanthemums should be planted where they will get as much sun as possible.

If you have enough space, it's best to grow chrysanthemums in a different spot each year. If you don't have the space, take the old plants out of the bed, re-work the soil, fertilize it and then reset the plants in the same place.

You should space the plants about twelve to twenty-four inches apart. You can space them further apart if you like, but they should never be closer than twelve inches.

Successful watering

The right amount of water will have more to do with whether or not your chrysanthemums are successful than anything else. Too little water will slow their growth or stop it completely. It is especially important that they have plenty of water when they bloom.

The amount of fertilizer your chrysanthemums need will depend on the kind of soil they're in... but, generally, you should use from one to one-and-a-half pounds of a complete fertilizer for every hundred feet of growing area. The term "complete fertilizer" means one such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10.

Insects and diseases on chrysanthemums are relatively few. The disease you're most likely to see on mums is septoria leaf spot. It causes the lower leaves to become spotted and then brown. You can control septorial leaf spot on your mums by spraying them every ten to twelve days with either Phaltan or Benlate. You should use one tablespoon of either of these chemicals for each gallon of water.

Insect Control

The insects you're likely to see on chrysanthemums are aphids and spider mites. They feed on the leaves by sucking out the juices. You can control aphids and spider mites with the insecticides Diazinon or Malathion. You should use two teaspoons of either of these chemicals for each gallon of water. You can apply the insecticide at the same time you apply the fungicide.

Occasionally, caterpillars will eat the leaves and flowers of chrysanthemums. You can control caterpillars with an insecticide dust called Sevin. If you would like for your chrysanthemums to branch more and produce more flowers, you should pinch off the top 1/4 or 1/2 inch of the plant after it is established in the bed. This is usually seven to fourteen days after planting. Do not pinch or prune chrysanthemums after July 20.

For more information on chrysanthemums, contact your local county Extension office.