Prepare for Your Dahlia Garden in the Upcoming Year Without Feeling Overwhelmed

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My fascination with dahlias has long been confined to admiring them in others’ gardens. Their vibrant presence always caught my attention, yet the thought of the entire process – planting, staking, uprooting, and winter storage – seemed daunting.

However, as my gardening experience grows, so does my appreciation for their stunning beauty and adaptability.

Dahlias are incredibly diverse, boasting a range of sizes, colors, and flower shapes, making each cultivar distinct. The variety is astounding, including anemone, cactus, peony, orchid, and waterlily types, as well as single, double, and dinner plate-sized blooms.

With over 42 species and countless hybrids, there’s undoubtedly a dahlia to enhance any garden setting.

These flowers have a unique ‘cut-and-come-again’ blooming pattern, encouraging continuous flower production from summer to fall, even as you regularly pick them for bouquets.

“Dahlias are surprisingly easy to cultivate,” says Lauren Sikorski, co-owner of Sow-Local, a boutique flower farm in Oakdale, New York. They demand some attention and specific growing conditions but don’t require expert gardening skills.

Dahlias thrive in cool conditions and well-drained soil, avoiding heat and overly moist roots. Sikorski warns against clay soils, recommending the addition of compost for better drainage.

In cooler climates, dahlias are typically seasonal, removed before winter. They’re hardy in USDA zones 8-10, where they bloom late into the year. In these warmer zones, planting occurs in early fall, with the plants needing mulching and occasional trimming for repeated blooming cycles. However, in the hottest areas, some shade is beneficial.

Conversely, in zones 7 and below, dahlias require post-frost harvesting. Sikorski suggests waiting for the foliage to blacken, then carefully uprooting the tubers. Clean, dry, and label them – especially if you have multiple varieties – for easier identification in the spring.

Sikorski stores tubers in cardboard boxes at 40-45 degrees in dry conditions. Alternatively, some gardeners use perforated bags filled with vermiculite or similar materials for storage.

Inspect stored tubers monthly, rehydrating any that appear shriveled. Discard any that don’t recover or show signs of rot.

Come spring, plant the tubers in sunny spots after frost danger has passed. For earlier blooms, start them indoors in pots, then transfer to the garden post-last frost. Use stakes to support the growing stems, adjusted to the height of the variety planted.

To enjoy dahlias next year, order tubers now. Most suppliers will dispatch them in spring, but gardeners in warmer regions might need to store them for fall planting.

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Jessica Damiano, author of the acclaimed Weekly Dirt Newsletter and regular gardening columns for The AP, shares her expertise in these pieces. Subscribe for weekly gardening insights.

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For more AP gardening stories, visit bigbignews.net/gardening.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dahlia Gardening Tips

More about Dahlia Gardening Tips

• Dahlia Care and Cultivation
• Choosing the Right Dahlia Varieties
• Seasonal Dahlia Planting Guide
• Dahlia Tubers Storage Techniques
• Dahlia Blooming Patterns Explained
• Soil Preparation for Dahlias
• Dahlia Plant Support Methods