Chrysanthemum ‘Country Girl’ is a popular cultivar, known for its ability to bring vibrant color to gardens as fall approaches. This hardy garden mum is a favorite among gardeners, extending the beauty of outdoor spaces into cooler months and providing a splash of color when many other plants have finished their display.
Understanding Country Girl Mum
The ‘Country Girl Mum’ is recognized by its soft, light pink, daisy-like flowers, typically three inches across, with a yellow center. These attractive blooms appear from mid- or late summer and continue profusely through the fall until the first frost. This herbaceous perennial usually forms a low-spreading clump, growing to about 15 to 24 inches tall and 18 to 60 inches wide. Regular pinching can encourage a more compact and bushy form.
Planting Country Girl Mums
‘Country Girl Mums’ are best planted in the spring, allowing their root systems to develop before colder months. They thrive in locations that receive full sun, ideally at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, which promotes healthy growth and abundant flowering. While they can tolerate some partial shade, especially in warmer climates, full sun generally leads to more compact and floriferous plants.
The planting site should offer fertile, highly organic, and well-drained soil, with a pH ranging between 6.0 and 8.0. When planting, ensure proper spacing, typically 18 to 36 inches apart. Set the plant at the same depth it was in its nursery pot, with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil to prevent water from gathering around the stem, which can lead to rot.
Ongoing Care for Country Girl Mums
‘Country Girl Mums’ require consistent light and water for healthy growth and abundant blooms. They need full sun exposure, meaning direct sunlight for at least six hours each day. In regions with high temperatures, providing some partial shade during the hottest part of the afternoon can help.
Mums have shallow root systems and benefit from regular watering to maintain consistent soil moisture, especially during dry periods and when blooming. For plants in the ground, weekly watering that saturates the soil deeply is often sufficient, unless there is adequate rainfall. Potted mums dry out more quickly and may require daily watering in warm, sunny weather; check the top inch or two of soil for dryness. Watering in the morning is recommended to allow foliage to dry, reducing disease risk.
Fertilizing supports vigorous growth and prolific flowering. A balanced NPK fertilizer is suitable. For established plants, begin feeding in spring after the last frost, once new growth reaches four to six inches tall. Continue feeding monthly until early to mid-summer, or when flower buds begin to form. Soil amendments like compost or leaf mold can also enrich the soil.
Pinching encourages bushier growth and more blooms. Begin pinching stems in spring when plants are about six inches tall, removing the top two to three inches of new growth just above a leaf. Repeat this every few weeks until mid-July for a compact plant. Deadheading, the removal of spent blooms, also encourages new flowers and maintains a tidy appearance.
Common Problems and Solutions
Chrysanthemums can encounter common pests and diseases. Aphids are small insects that feed on plant sap, leading to distorted growth and sometimes leaving honeydew. Spider mites can cause yellow spots on leaves and fine webbing, especially during hot, dry conditions. Both can be managed with insecticidal soaps or a forceful spray of water. Encouraging natural predators, such as ladybugs, helps control aphids.
Fungal diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spots, and gray mold can affect mums, particularly in humid conditions or with poor air circulation. Powdery mildew appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves, while leaf spots manifest as dark spots. To prevent these issues, ensure adequate spacing for air circulation and avoid overhead watering, as wet foliage promotes fungal growth. Removing infected leaves and plant debris helps limit disease spread.
Root rot, characterized by yellowing leaves, wilting, and stunted growth, results from overwatering or poorly draining soil. Improving soil drainage and reducing watering frequency are key to addressing root rot.
Winterizing and Overwintering
For ‘Country Girl Mums’ to return year after year, especially in colder climates (USDA Zones 4-7), winterization is important. After the first hard frost, when foliage has browned and plants have entered dormancy, stems can be cut back to one to two inches from the ground. Some gardeners leave dead stems intact through winter for additional insulation.
Applying a layer of mulch protects roots from freezing and thawing cycles. A three to six-inch layer of loose, airy mulch, such as straw, pine needles, or evergreen branches, should be spread over the crown of the plant. This mulch helps maintain a consistent soil temperature. For potted ‘Country Girl Mums’, overwintering indoors in a cool, dark place like an unheated garage or shed (32-50 degrees Fahrenheit) is effective. During dormancy, keep the soil barely moist, checking monthly to prevent it from drying out. In spring, once severe cold danger has passed, remove mulch, and gradually reintroduce potted plants to outdoor conditions.