Working with Dahlias

Dahlias are among the most beautiful and most exotic residents of any garden. With large blooms that are impossible to ignore, dahlias stand out in any garden in which they're planted. The sturdy, large blooms of the dahlia are available in a variety of colors and in sizes ranging from as small as an inch to as large as a foot. In addition, the flowers themselves come in a variety of shapes. Some dahlia blooms are shaped like baseballs, while others curve back on themselves so that they almost touch their stems.

Dahlias are known as sun loving plants and they always do better with sufficient sunlight. Gardeners recommend providing dahlias with at least a half day of sunlight every day. In addition, dahlias need enough water to thrive, and most varieties require from 1 – 2 inch Dahlias

es of rain — either rainfall or artificial watering — every week.

Dahlias also require a good rich soil with lots of organic material, a regular schedule for pruning, a good insecticide to protect them from beetles and grasshoppers and they might need staking as the plants grow ever taller. In addition, dahlias should be fed with a quality, low nitrogen fertilizer as needed.

Dahlias are actually grown from a tuber, which is a bulb like structure. Dahlias are actually classified as bulb plants. The best time to plant dahlias is the beginning of June, and they will usually bloom around October. Dahlias can be planted earlier in the season as well, and these will provide late summer blossoms. Dahlias should be dug up after the first frost of the year and then they should be divided and stored for the winter. This will allow the gardener Dahlias

to replant the dahlia tuber the following year.

Dahlias come in a great many varieties, but one of the most popular varieties is the David George, a variety that features a bloom of deep red color and medium size. Other popular dahlia varieties include the Bonaventure, featuring large bronze colored flowers, and the Allie Yellow, with features a tiny yellow bloom.

In addition to staples like orchids and roses, dahlias are often seen at flower shows and many gardeners grow dahlias purely for these competitions. A prize dahlia will likely be the star of any flower show due to their striking beauty and large size.