Dahlias: how to grow dahlias to fill your garden with vibrant summer colour

Dahlias are simply a piece of pure heaven in the garden-a place where flowers have produced or will be producing an explosion of color sure to make any garden a summer treasure. Coming in several shades, shapes, and sizes, they are doubtless among the most versatile and popular flowers coming from gardeners all over the world. They grow from a tuberous root system, and thus the process of growing dahlias may be intimidating; due attention and care do ensure, however, that from midsummer to the first frost, striking flowers are there to grace one's garden. 

About Dahlias: A Primer

Before turning to the practical aspect the cultivation of dahlias - it is necessary to appreciate first what makes these flowers special. Native to Mexico and Central America, dahlias first shipped into Europe during the late 18th century. Hybridization, over the years, has been done in so many ways that today the genus includes one of the most varied groups of garden plants.

Dahlias are part of the Asteraceae family and are cousin plants to sunflowers, daisies, and chrysanthemums. Tubering roots are comparatively small and usually described as much like a small sweet potato in appearance. These tubers store nutrients to help the plant survive over winter. Generally speaking, dahlias are categorized based upon flower shape and size. These range in variation from small pom-pom types to large dinner-plate varieties.

 Selection of Varieties of Dahlias

First things first, which is the selection of varieties that would suit your garden. With over 57,000 recognized dahlia cultivars, that can be quite a number to sift through for most. Your garden conditions and your aesthetic taste will therefore narrow down these options for you.

Size and Shape of Flowers

They range from small blooms to true giants, almost as large as a golf ball-some varieties boast over 10-inch diameters. A few of the more common types are selected below within this article.

• Pompon Dahlias: Small, perfectly round flowers give good textural element and color in borders and cut flower arrangements.
• Ball Dahlias: Slightly larger than the pompon dahlia, they take on the same form-actually can be as big as 4 inches across. Cactus Dahlias: Bringing a little drama and intrigue to whatever garden they're in, cactus dahlias boast spiky curled petals. Blooms may be from 4-10 inches across.
• Dinner Plate Dahlias: These are the giants in the field of dahlias. Flowers on dinner plate dahlias can be as big as 12 inches across and quite often present a show as a centerpiece in the garden.

 Color Selection

Dahlias are available in just about every shade of the rainbow, except true blue. One thing to consider in selecting varieties is what colors of flowers will look appealing in your garden. Pastel soft colors, bright oranges, or bright deep reds-do you like one or all? Some like to choose flowers all together that are a pleasing color combination to look at in your garden while other gardeners like to plant a wide variety of different shades and colors.

Land Preparation and Plantation Site

This is a perennial crop that grows rather well in well-drained soils with abundant sunlight. Besides, land preparation to grow the crop must pay due attention to site preparation with a view to achieving better results with dahlia plants.

 Location and Sunlight

Dahlias will bloom successively in full sun with clear distinction. For that purpose, a place in your outdoor space should be selected with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. Where it is very hot, partial afternoon shade prevents flowers from flopping due to excessive heat.

Soil Preparation

It requires a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH. It, therefore, falls between pH 6.0 and 7.0. Organic matter needs to be added to the soil. During planting time, it should be well prepared with compost or well-rotted manure. This will do much in improving the texture within the soil, adding the capability of water draining in the soil, hence bringing the needed nutrients to the dahlia plant.

Next, prepare the bed where planting is to be achieved through tilling to a depth of about 12 inches and removal of all boulders and limerock. 

 Planting Dahlias: Tubers, Seeds and Transplants

Dahlias can be propagated by tubers, seed, or transplanting. And each one of them has relative advantages and disadvantages. Let us go a little close to each one.

 Growing Dahlias from Tubers

Tubers are usually used in growing dahlias, since one tuber will always grow into the most vigorous of plants with very spectacular blooms. The time to undertake this is during the spring season when the last frost has passed.

• Planting: Dahlias are planted out when the danger of frost has passed and the ground temperature reached 60° F (15°C). In most climates this will be the last week of April or the first week of May.
• Planting: Make the hole about 6-8″ deep, also wide enough to take the tuber in. Place the tuber with the "eye" · a small inflated bump looking up toward you. •Cover the tuber with 2-3″ of soil, wait until the sprout begins to show then fill in the rest of the hole.

 Growing Dahlias from Seeds

Dahlias are less frequently grown from seed, but it is an inexpensive way of propagating a large number of plants. The seed-grown dahlia are usually smaller and may not have as much vigor as that grown from tubers but still bloom nicely.

• When to start: dahlia seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Move the seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
• Sow seeds: in seed starting formula and cover seed with a thin layer of soil. Keep the soil consistently moist. Keep about 70-80° and provide direct sunlight. Transplant to garden when seedlings have several sets of leaves.

 Planting Dahlias as Sets

This might be done in one of several ways: one could purchase dahlias as nursery transplants or, on the other hand, take cuttings from a preexisting plant with which to plant news ones. In that regard, the transplant does have the advantage insofar as it already has an established root system and thus gives them a head start in growing-and perhaps even blooming-sooner.

• Planting Time: Dahlias are planted in the garden after the date of the last frost. The soil should have warmed up.
• How to Plant: A hole should be dug large enough to take the root ball, and place the transplant to the same depth it was growing in the pot. Immediately water well after planting.

Seasonal Care for Dahlias

Other tips take over care from the above once you get them in the ground to make them bloom through summer into fall. This shall include:

Watering

Dahlias do like constant moisture but not sitting in water. Do deep waterings once or twice in a week according to the weather and soil conditions. The idea is to keep the soil moist on an even basis but not waterlogged. 

 Fertilizing

Dahlias are hungry plants, and they will love fertilizer quite oft during the growing season. One can use a balanced fertilizer, 10-10-10 or 5-10-10. Start this treatment when the plants are about a foot tall continuing every 3 to 4 weeks until early August. Keep high nitrogen fertilizers away because these tend to promote lush foliage at the expense of blooms.

Staking and Supporting

Varieties are primarily tall in height, and staking is necessary, or they can be flopped over due to weight of the bloom. Dahlias likely will need a stake at time of planting to avoid tuber injury mid-season. Place sturdy stakes or bamboo poles and loosely tie the stem onto the stake by using garden twin or soft ties.

Pinching and Deadheading

These would have been so much better dahlias if it had been pinched and deadheaded for more blooms.

• Pruning: On pinching, it will be of great reward to be pinching the top of dahlia plants when they have reached one and a half foot tall. These ensure it gains bushier growth with more stems of flowers. This usually is effected by removing the top inch of the main stem just above a node where leaves are coming out from the stalk.
• Deadheading: This is the frequent removal of the dead flowers to avoid setting seed inside the plant. This will make them foster continuous blooming. The flower stem should be cut back to the closest joint in the leaf to foster growth of new buds.

Pest and Disease Control

Generally, dahlias are hardy plants but have a few pests and diseases. Some of the common ones include:

• Aphids: These are the small sap-sucking insects that cause distorted leaves and retarded growth. Control them with insecticidal soap or the beneficial insects that include lady bugs. 
• Slugs and Snails: Under damp conditions, these will chew the holes in leaves and flowers. They are controlled by slug traps, copper barriers, or organic slug baits.
• Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that leaves a white, powdery covering on the leaves. Good air circulation and staying away from overhead watering would be prevention. If it has set in, then treatment with a fungicide or homemade solution with baking soda and water will need to be applied.

Conclusion 

Dahlias will make your garden during summer a kaleidoscopic haven, a display of color and shape unrivaled. In other words, it means that in the proper variety, much sun, good drainage of surplus water in the ground, proper watering, and fertilizing can give you longer flowers. With little awareness and periodic nurturing, it shows its beauty splendor and can keep your garden seasonal within itself. Learn how to create a brilliant, full-of-life dahlia garden that lights up your summer and keeps any guest staring agog in wonder-from novice to pro.