Looking to add some magical appeal to your garden? Try growing Dahlias! These stunning plants exude irresistible charm and offer enough variety to leave you scratching your scalp, wondering what to pick for your garden! Want to know how to grow dahlias in your garden? Here’s some information that’ll come in handy…
Dahlias do best in sunny locations with fertile, well draining soil. If you live in a region subject to strong winds, I’d recommend you pick a planting site that offers adequate protection from the wind. You can plant dahlia bulbs in spring, after the danger of frosts is over. Dig a hole that’s only a little larger than the root ball and sow the bulb with the crown lying just above the ground surface. If you’ve picked a shorter variety of dahlias, space the plants about 2 feet apart. In case of taller varieties, increase the gap between adjacent plants to 3 feet. Irrigate the plants after refill and keep them well watered right through the growing season. Dahlias are susceptible to fungal infections and should always be watered from below, preferably early in the day.
I’ve made it a rule to mulch right after planting dahlias. A mix of pine chips, straw and peat moss is ideal for mulching dahlias. Make sure you provide the plants with a fine layer, no less than 3-4 inches thick. Monthly application of a low nitrogen fertilizer bodes well for your plants. Make a note to stop fertilizing Dahlias in August and start again in the beginning of the next season.
Prune the plants once they’re about 4 inches tall. Thinning the shoots and removing the faded flowers is a great way of improving both the quality and duration of bloom. Remove all damaged or infected foliage that you come across and dispose of. Also, don’t forget to water your plants after pruning.
Nothing compares to the splendor of dahlia flowers in bloom. So, if you aren’t growing dahlias already, start now!
