The remaining flower bud will produce an extra-large, showy flower. To produce mums with a multitude of flowers, pinch them back when the new growth is four to six inches tall. Continue pinching them throughout the summer months up to August 1, whenever the new shoots are three to five inches long. Repeated pinching will produce bushy, mounded plants that will be blanketed with flowers in the fall. Chrysanthemums naturally bloom during the shorter days of late summer and early fall, which extends the flower garden season up to the first heavy frost.
Colors cover the entire spectrum in virtually every shade except blue.
If you'd like to match the colors of hardwood leaves, choose yellow, rust, red and bronze-colored mums. If you'd like to use mums as accent plants, consider white, pink and lavender-colored ones. Besides enjoying them outdoors, bring some inside as long-lasting cut flowers to brighten your home for several weeks. Choose a fertile, well-drained sunny location with at least a half day of sun. Always water freshly planted garden mums, and keep a watchful eye out for dry spells.