Q: We planted several mums last fall for late season color. Most survived the winter and the plants are about a foot tall. How should we care for them?

A: They will look better in fall if you remove the top 2″ of each stem now, making the cut just above a leaf. New sprouts will emerge and by mid-July you can clip out the tip of each branch you see. Multiple fresh sprouts will appear and the plant will bloom with attractive “bushiness” in fall.