Dahlia Growing Guide and Tips

Dahlia Planting and Care Guide

 

Dahlias should be planted after your average last frost date; you can google your hardiness zone by zip code, mine falls around mid to late April.

No.1

Prepare the location of your dahlias by choosing a sunny spot with well-draining soil, adding compost and organic fertilizer to your soil will add nutrients in that are best for healthy dahlia plants and a bounty of blooms.

No.2

Dig a hole about 6 inches deep, space tubers at least 12 inches apart

to allow the plant space to grow.

Sprinkle bone meal into the bottom of each hole and lay the tuber down on its side. If there is a visible “growing eye” face it upwards.

No.3

Once the first green leaves shoot up through the soil then you can start to water, watering too soon can cause your tubers to rot.

Continue to water 2-3 times per week, depending on weather.

When your plants reach about 10-12 inches tall it is good to give them a “pinch”! That means to cut the main stalk down to half its height. This will encourage your dahlia to branch more and create longer stronger stems and more blooms.

Cutting flowers from your Dahlia plants will ensure continued flowering all season long, harvest flowers when temperatures are at the coolest part of the day. Cut the flowers when they are almost fully open as they do not continue to open once cut like some other flowers. Place flowers in clean water and trim every few days and place in fresh water to get longer lasting flowers in your vase. Enjoy!