Chrysanthemum
An ornamental plant, planted May to August.
In September: deadhead the chrysanthemum. Wear gloves: it can cause a skin allergy.
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Chrysanthemum, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Plant a pot-grown chrysanthemum. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Pinch out the tips of the chrysanthemum. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none |
| Lift and divide the chrysanthemum. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Take the side buds off the chrysanthemum (large-flowered and exhibition plants only. For spray types only). | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Deadhead the chrysanthemum. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Cut back the chrysanthemum. | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear gloves: it can cause a skin allergy.
Strong source: RHS.
Planting
Plant out May to June, 30 to 45cm apart. Strong source: RHS.
Plant a pot-grown chrysanthemum June to August, 30 to 45cm apart. Strong source: RHS.
Pinch out the tips of the chrysanthemum
Nip out the tip with thumb and finger, or snip it with secateurs, just above a pair of leaves.
Usually February to July. Strong source: RHS.
Lift and divide the chrysanthemum
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
Take the side buds off the chrysanthemum
Gardeners call this disbudding.
For large-flowered and exhibition plants only. For spray types only.
On single-flowered kinds, keep the central bud and remove all the side buds for one big flower.
Usually May to August. Strong sources: RHS and National Chrysanthemum Society.
Deadhead the chrysanthemum
Usually September to November. Strong source: RHS.
Cut back the chrysanthemum
Once flowering is over, cut the whole plant down to 20cm tall.
Usually November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Chrysanthemum” comes from.