Pruning is an important task to help ensure plant health and keep the perennial garden thriving. In my work as a professional gardener, I try to observe the recommended guidelines for pruning shrubs ...

Pruning mums helps them grow fuller with longer-lasting blooms. Pinch tips at 4–6 inches tall, again at 12 inches tall, and stop about 100 days before bloom. Deadhead spent flowers once blooming ...

Deadhead container mums to get more blooms and extend color into fall. Don’t prune hardy mums in fall—wait until spring for better growth. Water well, give full sun, and wait for cooler temps before ...

The flowers are fading, leaves are falling, and the lawn has lost its summer beauty as we inch into autumn. Drought and intense heat have left many plants struggling, and what was once a beautiful ...

Light frosts only harm blooms, but hard freezes can kill mum roots. Use mulch, covers, or shelter for protection; wait until spring to prune. Choose hardy mums for outdoor planting—florist mums need ...

August sees the peak of many perennials, with flowers starting to wilt and look a little tired as the month progresses. Spring and early summer usually sees the vast majority of blooms, and you might ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Jacky Hobbs/Future Pruning shrubs and perennials in May can reward you with neater plants ...

Do you know what a secateur is? I encountered the word a few years ago in a magazine featuring Martha Stewart, who was describing the fine points of the secateur she was marketing. A secateur is ...

"Show mums" are a cold-hardy, late-season perennial showstopper in your garden that won't die off in the winter. As the summer season winds down, gardeners like myself start getting desperate to hang ...

Hanging baskets, planter boxes and perennial gardens that are bursting with color are seldom planted in spring and left untouched until autumn. Deadheading, pruning, trimming and pinching are all ...

Q: I believe I heard you say something on the radio about not being able to get potted mums established outside. Did I hear correctly, and can you elaborate? I enjoy the perennial fall color of mums ...