The dahlia is a popular garden plant.You can enjoy the showy flowers from the middle of summer through the first frost of the year if you care for your dahlias correctly.Pruning your dahlias may remove pests or diseases.It's easy to care for your dahlias when you know how.
Step 1: Once they reach 16 in, pinch the tips off.
The dahlia will develop 4 sets of leaves when it first starts growing.To encourage branching, pinch off the top of the plant above the fourth set of leaves.The dahlias will recover quickly at this point in their growing cycle.You can remove new growth throughout the growing season to encourage more flower production.If you prefer, you can use a sharp tool to remove the new growth.
Step 2: If you want giant blooms, limit each plant to 3 to 5 stems.
Smaller flowers are caused by more flowers taking up more energy.To get the biggest blooms, limit the number of flowers on each plant, so the energy can be directed towards growing just a few large flowers.
Step 3: If you don't mind smaller blooms, allow up to 10 flower stems.
If you prefer to have more flowers and you don't worry about size, just cut back on new growth occasionally.As the dahlia branches out, you can see as many as 10 flowers on a single plant.
Step 4: Cut off flowers with scissors.
The practice of deadheading encourages more blooms.You can see your dahlia bloom all the way through the fall if you take the faded flowers out.It is easy to remove the flowers with sharp scissors, shears, or a knife.The main stem of the flower needs to be cut back.
Step 5: When you're deadheading, don't remove rounded buds.
It can be hard to tell the difference between a new flower bud and a dead head when all the petals have fallen.The dead head is shaped like a cone.While removing dead heads will encourage new buds to grow, removing buds will delay flower development.
Step 6: There are parts of the dahlias that need to be cut off.
To improve the appearance of your plants, you can remove parts of the dahlias that are brown or shriveled with a pair of gardening shears.It is possible to prevent diseases from spreading among your plants by doing this regularly.The leaves, buds, and stems should be thrown away.
Step 7: If you see brown spots, remove flowers.
The wooly gray growth on the dahlia's petals is a sign of a fungus.If you don't remove the damaged petals, the fungus will continue to grow.Cool, wet conditions are favored by the fungus.You should be able to find iprodione, moncozeb, or fenhexamid at a garden supply store if you live in a climate where this weather is common.
Step 8: If you see knots forming, pull up the entire plant.
The root knot nematode lives in warm, sandy soil and can affect a variety of different plants.The knots will grow near the roots until the plant dies.Before you can grow healthy plants, you need to treat your soil with a nematicide.
Step 9: If you see redness of the veins, burn the plants and roots.
verticillium can stay in the soil for several years if it's combined with the discoloration.If not treated, this fungus will eventually kill your plant, and it can spread to other dahlias quickly.The plants should be thrown in the landfill if burning isn't allowed in your area.If you see a mosaic on the leaves, you will need to destroy the entire plant.
Step 10: Don't water the dahlias from overhead.
The leaves become brown and dry when Smut causes spots to appear.Water pooling can be caused by directly overhead watering.Try to keep the water close to the base of the plant.
Step 11: If you live in a cold region, dig up the dahlia bulbs.
It is best to take the bulbs out of the ground if you experience hard freezes.It is easy to store dahmia bulbs over the winter so you can enjoy them again next year.If you don't want to store the bulbs over the winter, just buy new ones in the spring.In the U.S., dahlias can be left in the ground starting at Zone 8.
Step 12: The foliage should be 2–4 in above the ground.
With the first frost, the foliage will turn black.If you like, you can wait until this occurs before you cut the plant back to ensure you get the full enjoyment out of your dahlia for the season, and waiting will also help to prepare the bulb for storage.
Step 13: Use a small spade to dig up the bulbs.
If you loosen the dirt and pull upwards, you will be able to free the clump root.If multiple plants are growing close together, it's a good idea to separate them.Take the soil off the roots.Cut the rotten bulbs away with a knife.
Step 14: The bulbs should be stored upside down for 3 weeks to dry.
If you want to hang up the bulbs in a dry place, look for a basement or garden shed.For several weeks, place the bulbs upside-down in a pot.The bulbs need to be completely dry before you store them.
Step 15: Once the bulbs are dry, put them in a container with a loose material.
If you want to protect your bulbs from humidity, fill your container with sawdust, vermiculite, styrofoam peanuts, or any other dry, loose material.They will not rot while in storage.The container should be covered with a material that is absorbent.
Step 16: The bulbs should be kept in the store.
The container should be kept in a place where it won't be disturbed.The ideal temperature for storage is 40–45 F (4– 7C), but it can be anywhere from 35 to 50%.When spring arrives, separate the bulbs from the main clump and plant them again.