How to Plant and Take Care of your Dahlia Flowers
Dahlias, or Dalias, are very bright and bold flowers in the Spring or Summer garden. Their official name is Dahlia x hybrida, and they are deer resistant though not deer proof. Depending on where you live, this will make a huge difference for you. I like Dahlias because they have large, and colorful blooms, from what I see. I mean, the colors are rich and deep, and so they are striking and stand out.
Dahlias are one of the few annuals that tolerate part sun, or part shade. For instance, if you have only morning sunlight where they will be planted, that is no big deal. With some flowers, they won't bloom if they don't have enough sunshine. So this makes them a winner in my book, as I need more flowers that bloom in a bold way, without being able to have a ton of sun.
As for watering, Dahlias like their soil moist, though not waterlogged or super soggy. They will grow anywhere from 10 - 18 inches tall, by 8 - 12 inches across. They tend to grow rather quickly, which is also nice. They can take the cold, but not freezing. Once it goes to freezing, they are done.
To prune your Dahlias, you want to cut or snip off the old blooms as they are dying. You can do a liquid fertilizer every month or so to help them stay strong and putting out flowers.
As for planting ideally, dig a whole twice the size in width as you will need, and put the top of the root ball even with the surrounding soil. Mix a good soil planting mixture with the soil that you dug out, and fill in around the root ball. Tamp it down gently, and allow for a small area for the water to collect initially. This will setting the soil and give it a good watering. You can add mulch, just a thin layer even if you like. In the beginning, check it often to make sure the soil has enough moisture. Once the plant is established, this won't be as critical.
Enjoy your Dahlias!
