If your mums are three years old or more, September is prime for division. Dig up the clump. Hack it into pieces with a shovel. Replant the healthiest chunks.
This sounds violent. It’s actually rebirth. Old mums get woody and lazy. Splitting them forces new roots. Next year, you’ll have twice the flowers. It’s plant CPR with a garden fork.
Why They Smell Like Socks
Ever notice that mum leaves smell like earthy gym socks? That’s pyrethrin, a natural insecticide. The smell repels pests. So by growing mums, you’re basically deploying a chemical warfare battalion in your garden. Take that, aphids.
7 Tips to Keep Your Chrysanthemums Blooming Until First Frost