Nothing says instant fall beauty like the Chrysanthemum. Most of the summer annuals have lost their vigor or gone leggy so the bursts of color from mounds of mums are welcome additions to the fall flower bed.

At the nursery, since early spring, workers have been propagating new plants from last year's Chrysanthemums and pinching back the new growth to maintain a mound shape and force the plants to become bushy. The more stems the plant has, the more flowers it will produce. Under controlled conditions the mums will be manipulated to bloom all at once for the fall display and instant gratification for gardeners coast to coast.

There are many varieties and colors of Chrysanthemums all stemming from the original yellow flowering plant from which it got its name. Over 20,000 species belong to the mum family. Selecting a mum for your fall garden bed can be a daunting task. Understanding something about Chrysanthemums will help you select the proper plants.

If you only want color for one season, any choice you make is fine. Make sure to water and fertilize on a regular schedule to keep your plants blooming. Deadhead to encourage new blooms. The easiest way to do this is with scissors otherwise it will take you a week to pick spent blossoms off one plant. Fertilizing will continue to spur growth. Nurseries fertilize plants at half strength every time they water. If you do not continue the process, plants may just decline after their blooming is done. The stress of transplanting and the cooler weather setting in is just too much.

If your goal is to have a permanent display of Chrysanthemums in your fall flower bed you need to seek out 'hardy' plants. Hardy mums have been developed to be perennial in colder regions. Original mums are tropical. Fancy flowers and unique colors are not considered hardy. Check with a reputable nursery for hardy varieties for your area either local, catalog, or online. Check the roots on the plants. They should display new thick solid growth as they are attempting to increase their size in the pot.

Chrysanthemums require full sun in a protected part of the flower garden. Amend the soil with organic compounds such as compost, humus, or peat moss. Plant no deeper than they are in the pot. Water thoroughly and deeply to promote root growth before the heavy winter freeze. If a branch breaks off during planting, take off lower leaves and trim off about a third of tip growth including flowers and buds. Stick it in the ground and water it well. You may be rewarded with a new plant.

This propagation method is easily done with Chrysanthemums from early spring to mid summer. Mums are not long-lived perennials so propagation will insure a steady supply. Chrysanthemums are naturally disease resistant. Insects are generally repelled which is why there are many bug treatment products on the market derived from mums. Aphids may be your only problem pest which can be handled with insecticidal soap or ladybugs.

To maintain Chrysanthemums, fertilize in the spring and mid summer with an all purpose flower fertilizer. If the plants are left natural, they will grow up to two feet tall and begin blooming around July. Staking may be necessary. Long stems make terrific cut flowers for arranging table centerpieces and other floral displays. You can also dry the flowers with silica gel to add to a natural vine wreath.

To create the low mounds, begin pinching the tips of the branches when they are 4"-6" long. Continue this pinching through mid July creating the shape you desire. Now the plant will set its buds and reward you with a burst of flowering fall color. 

Once your Chrysanthemums have finished their blooming and growth, they will become dormant. You can remove top growth down to an inch or two from the crown. Mulch your plants to help protect them over the winter. Come spring new growth will emerge beginning their quest as the stars of your window boxes, planters, and fall flower bed.