I thought the rule of thumb for mums was July 4. For some reason that date sticks in my mind.

A few weeks ago, I was going to start a thread about what to pinch back this spring since it's been a topic we've discussed in the past so many times. Never got around to it.

In any case, I did remember this year to pinch and pinched back the mums, asters, a tall goldenrod, some veronica - all to control flopping. It's nice to see all the bushy new growth underway. I think I'll do the mums one more time today. At some point in time, I'm going to do the dahlias too. I had one growing in full sun last year grow to over 6 feet tall. It was beautiful, but very nerve wracking whenever we got a thunderstorm. I was fully expecting the whole thing to come crashing down, but it didn't.

Kevin

Kevin, that reminds me, I used that July 4th date last year and felt my Mums bloomed later than I wanted them and I decided to try to back that up by a week or two, so I guess now is exactly right. Thanks for the reminder.

i did remember to cut back Hibiscus 'Kopper KIng' last week by half, to try to get a bushier plant with smaller but more numerous flowers this year. I have two asters that are planted behind Pennisetum 'Hamelin' and I'm debating leaving those tall and not cutting.

Where did you get your Dahlias, Kevin? I always thought the tall Dahlias needed staking? I bought a series of shorter Dahlia bulbs at Brent & Becky's one year that worked out great. They grew in containers and were under 2ft. I hope you will post photos of your Dahlias when they are blooming.

Can you cut back Aconitum arendsii?

I didn't cut back my mums at all last year and they bloomed MUCH later than normal, some being destroyed by frost while just starting. Just food for thought...

hmmm ispahan, do you think they need the stress of cutting back to initiate bloom sooner?

prairiemoon

I was going to order some of the more spectacular dahlias from one of the better dahlia nurseries, but never got around to it, so I just picked up a few from a local garden center. I love the big bold ones in the 3-4 foot range, so I was looking for taller growing ones, but 6 feet was a bit much even for me.

I should have mentioned, I did stake that one, but when it grew so tall with so many stems, I didn't trust that I had done a good enough job. When you get these strong thunderstorms with really high winds, even the best staking job sometimes doesn't do the job. Luckily, the plant never experienced any major damage when the storms hit.

I don't have a photo of the entire plant of that tall one, but here's a individual flower pic:

{{gwi:231874}}

Kevin

Shadyplaces, I have an Aconitum that has not bloomed yet, so have never thought of cutting it back. I think I need to move it to more sun.

Ispahan, that's interesting. I would have thought they would have bloomed sooner.

Kevin, you sound like me. In any given growing season, I'm doing the same thing. Wanting to order something, not getting around to it, getting a plant that surprises you the way it grows, trying to solve the problem, then maybe it's not good enough of a solve, worrying about the weather for the plant, and then dodging the bullet on it. A very typical growing season. [g]

That's a great looking Dahlia! And look at all the buds! I do understand the attraction to the really large and eye catching blooms on the taller Dahlias. If I had more sun, I am sure I would give them more of a try.

shadeyplace wrote:

Can you cut back Aconitum arendsii?

I did it successfully last season. Read in this thread for more detail.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chelsea Chop for MH

I just cut back my asters and mums yesterday...for the second time. I will give them another trim in two weeks.

I love all the late blooms. My favorite time of the year....

This post was edited by lilsprout on Sun, Jun 22, 14 at 9:43

Doesn't it depend on which zone you are in? It seems that would make a difference.

is it technically even summer yet... cut them back ... crikey .. lol

yikes.. it was yesterday ... dont do it... its too late ... lol ..

just do it.. you spent more time turning on the computer.. to ask.. than i would have take with my sickle to mow them down.. now thats a mind picture.. lol ...

ken

Re actinium: one year deer pruned my actinium and they bloomed very late. Fortunately we had a late frost so got to see some bloom though the blossoms were small.

No, not too late. Just cut some of mine down yesterday. I'm still pinching hibiscus, too.