Many gardeners will cut mums back, then mulch heavily for winter, but if the weather turns wet, those plants may rot, especially if the site lacks good drainage.

Hardy mums require frequent division, a task best done in early spring and which can be done any time now. Many new shoots are produced from the roots.

Once you learn how to grow chrysanthemums, you can have beautiful mums that last longer than store-bought ones.

After the last hard freeze of the spring, plant the mum in the warm soil or move the pot back outside. Trim the stems and foliage. The plant should begin showing growth within weeks.

This week's Master Gardener Q&A tackles which annual flowers can be seeded in June, mums and how to save on potting soil.

This is prime time to prune trees and shrubs that already have finished blooming for the year.

How to Prune Mums If you're growing mums as a perennial, wait until after they have finished blooming in the fall and the foliage has gone completely dormant to prune them.

There are a few plants you shouldn't cut back in the fall—you'll risk the plant's health. Here are some you should definitely leave alone.