Effect of Postfrost Pruning on Winter Hardiness of Selected Garden Chrysanthemums
Pruning aboveground tissues back to the plant crown in preparation for winter is a common cultural practice for garden chrysanthemums [Dendranthema grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura]. But some landscape managers suggest pruning immediately before the onset of low temperatures may be responsible for predisposing plants to winter injury. To evaluate the effect of pruning garden chrysanthemums in November and December on winter survival, rooted cuttings of 19 chrysanthemum cultivars were obtained from Yoder Brothers and were field-planted in a randomized complete-block design with five replications. Pruning treatments were 1) plants pruned to 2 cm above the crown on 1 Nov., 2) plants pruned to 2 cm above the crown on 1 Dec., and 3) plants not pruned. Survival and regrowth data were gathered the following summer. Cultivars differed in their response to the treatments, but in general, survival percentages and regrowth shoot dry weights were greater for plants that were not pruned.