We are all spending a lot of time at our homes this summer but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable. A great activity and an easy way to make your home more pleasant is gardening. We have some tips and tricks for you to add dahlias into your garden this summer.
First a little background. Dahlia’s bloom almost continually. If you cut them, the more flowers they produce! You can replant or keep them growing yearly. The dahlia family consists of over 50,000 varieties in almost every color besides blue. Are you sick of buying fresh flowers for a centerpiece and having to switch them out every two weeks? Dahlias are one of the longest lasting cut flowers.
How To Grow
Make sure you plant the flowers in a spot that receives at least eight hours of direct sunlight a day. If you are living in an area where you have dry hot summers, find a spot where shade comes in during the afternoon.
Loosen the soil up to about 10 inches. You need to have soil that has good drainage. While planting, add in a fertilizer to the soil. Any fertilizer that is recommended for vegetables will work. You can grow dahlias from seeds, but it is easier to use tubers. Once the soil is prepared, dig a hole 4-6 inches deep. Lay the tuber horizontally and cover it with soil. If you are planting multiple, grow the varieties 9-12 inches apart. If you have taller dahlias, space them 2-3 feet apart.
Unless you are in a hot climate, do not water the tubers until you start to see leaves and shoots appear. The surface of the ground needs to stay warm for the tubers to come up. Once you see growth, preserve moisture with mulch. This will also help prevent weeds. If weeds arise, avoid using chemicals as it will kill the roots. Only pull weeds by hand.
How To Support
Some dahlias can be 2-10 inches wide, which is going to call for some extra support. Dahlias that reach 3 feet or higher need to be staked to keep the plants upright and support the heavy tops. Pro tip: put the stakes in before plating so you don’t puncture the tubers. As the plants grow, tie them to the stakes using something like string or twine. Tie at one foot intervals.
How To Water
Once the plants have been established, they love water. They need strong water at least two to three times a week with a soaker hose. If the plants have grown to about a foot tall, add in a nitrogen-soluble fertilizer every three to four weeks.
Have you decided to plant dahlias this summer? We would love to see them!
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