Dahlia Planting Guide
Grow stunning dahlias in your garden!
Dahlias are so elegant in the garden you may think they are difficult to grow. They’re actually extremely easy! Even a beginner gardener will find success. Once the official frost free date has past in your area, it’s time to plant!
Find a sunny spot where your plant will have around 24” to spread out.
Dig a hole 12” deep and add some compost and bone meal. Mix well.
Fill the hole back up with fresh compost mixture so when you add the tuber, it will be about 4” deep when placed on its side.
If you see an eye sprouting, plant with the eye facing up. If there’s no eye visible don’t worry one will emerge after planting. If you have an eye accidentally break off, that’s ok - another will take its place.
Don’t skip this important step. Dahlias require staking as their blooms can get very top heavy. Before filling in the soil, hammer a strong stake into the hole beside the tuber. If you wait until after filling in the hole, there’s a chance you might puncture the tuber with the stake! The stake is also a helpful reminder of where you planted the tuber. I also like to label the variety with a tag on the stake. When frost comes at the end of the season, it’s impossible to tell your varieties apart!
After the stake is placed, fill the planting hole. Unlike most other plants, dahlias should not be watered when you plant them. You begin watering when you see the green tips emerge from the ground. This is because dahlias are susceptible to rotting - especially before they’ve had a chance to start growing.
And that’s it! Keep tying your dahlia to the stake as it grows and clip off old flowers to encourage more blooms. You can treat it as an annual buying a new variety each year, or with some extra effort, you can dig and store it in a cool, frost free spot over winter.
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