Perennial dahlias: planting and care in open ground

Many gardeners consider perennial dahlias capricious plants and rarely plant them in flowerbeds. However, this belief is wrong. Any difficulties in growing them will be worth it with long-lasting blooms and rich colors.

Perennial dahlias feature vibrant blooms that will brighten any flowerbed. This group is very common, with nearly a thousand different varieties. Many gardeners enjoy growing these plants and enjoying the colorful flowerbed.

Characteristics of perennial dahlias

The plants delight with their long flowering period. The root system is tuberous. Stems can vary in height. Depending on the variety chosen, stems range from 30 to 120 cm.

Dahlias bloom for quite a long time, beginning in late summer and continuing until the first frost.

What do dahlias like?

To grow perennial dahlias, you need to know in advance what they prefer:

1. Warmth. Flowers require a warm climate. Even the slightest frost will kill them.
2. Light. If there is insufficient light, the stems will be elongated and the flowers will be pale.
3. Fertile soil. Flowers can grow in any soil. However, they will only delight you with lush blooms in light, loamy or well-fertilized soils.
4. Ventilation. When planting flowers, it's important to carefully select the site. Bushes shouldn't be planted too close together.
5. It is important to protect flowers from drafts.
6. Watering. Plants should be watered promptly and moderately.

What dahlias don't like

Although flowers are easy-to-grow, there are still some things they don't like. It's worth familiarizing yourself with them in advance:

1. Wintering conditions. If basic rules are not followed during the winter period, plants will die.
2. If there is insufficient light, the bushes will not be able to develop.
3. Overwatering the soil. Watering should be moderate. Otherwise, the roots will begin to rot, resulting in the death of the plant.
4. Fresh manure should not be added to the soil.
5. Avoid planting plants in areas where there is frequent wind.
6. The bushes must be tied up.

Propagation of dahlias

Before planting and caring for perennial dahlias, it's important to learn about propagation methods. There are several options, each with its own unique characteristics and worthy of attention:

• propagation by seedsIt is most often used in breeding. It's best to start sowing in March. First, prepare containers with soil. A mixture of sand and peat is best. Once the seedlings emerge, they need to be pricked out;

• propagation by cuttingsThis method is considered the most common. Starting in January, the tubers need to sprout. First, prepare boxes filled with sawdust.
  Once the sprouts reach 7 cm in size, they should be trimmed with a knife. The cuttings should be planted in soil and covered with plastic film. Plastic pots are recommended for containers;

• propagation by dividing tubers. First, the tubers need to sprout. Dig a trench in the garden, place the tubers in it, cover with soil, and cover with plastic wrap. Sprouts will appear in as little as 20 days. After this, the plastic wrap can be removed. However, do not remove the cover at night.

As soon as the first sprouts appear, you can begin dividing the tubers. They should be cut as follows: each piece should have two eyes. Each piece should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Selection of seedlings

Before planting perennial dahlias in your garden, pay close attention to the seedlings. Choose only high-quality seedlings. The tubers should be firm, healthy, and free of visible defects.

Before planting, the seed needs to be prepared. This should begin in May. Dry roots should be removed from the tubers. Then, prepare a nutritious substrate and plant the tubers in it.

Selecting a site

Dahlias don't have any particular soil requirements. However, they prefer to grow in sunny areas. Waterlogged soils are absolutely unsuitable, as the tubers will rot.

Soil preparation

Before planting, you need to prepare the soil. To do this, dig the soil and add compost and wood ash.

Planting plants in soil

1. Be sure to add compost, lime, and ash to the soil. The hole should be no deeper than a spade blade.
2. Place the tubers on the bottom and cover with soil. Finally, water and mulch.

Caring for Dahlias

Once the plants are planted in the soil, you can forget about the main difficulties. However, this doesn't mean dahlias require no care. By following simple rules, you can create a stunning flowerbed.

Caring for a perennial dahlia is as follows:

1. Watering. This should be done in a timely manner. Avoid allowing water to stagnate around the tubers, as this will lead to root rot. Watering should be done correctly. Avoid pouring water on the leaves, as this can cause rot. Watering should be done early in the morning or in the evening.
2. Fertilizing. Avoid overusing nitrogen fertilizers. This can result in poor flowering and weakened tubers. Dahlias require regular fertilization.
3. The first treatment is carried out 10 days after planting the flowers in open ground. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be used.

In the fall, several phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will be needed. Flowers respond well to wood ash. Simply sprinkle it between the bushes.

• Weeding

If weeds appear, they should be removed from the area immediately. Hand weeding is best. If you mulch the soil after planting flowers, this procedure will rarely be necessary.

• Pinching and pinching

This procedure should only be performed on tall plants. This will result in lush blooms and will also start the flowering process much earlier.

• Bush formation

As soon as a flower fades, it should be removed immediately. Otherwise, the spent buds will slow down the growth of others. To ensure lush blooms, only three buds should be left on each bush.

Varieties of dahlias

Perennial dahlias come in a wide variety of cultivars. There are simpler varieties that are grown everywhere. Gardeners also enjoy decorating their flowerbeds with more lush blooms.

Each variety is unique and has its own advantages:

• Single dahlias. Plants reach a height of up to 60 cm. Flowers can be up to 10 cm in diameter. The petals are oblong, with a flat center. The color range is particularly interesting. Flowers come in a variety of shades: red, pink, yellow, and white.
• Anemone dahlias. Plants can reach a height of up to 90 cm. They are most often grown along fences and near the house. The oblong petals are arranged around a central core. The flowers can be either single-colored or bicolored.

• Collared. Tall plants, up to 120 cm in size. They have an unusual flower structure. The petals are colored in several shades. Many varieties in this group have twisted petals.
• Peony-shaped. Flowers are up to 15 cm in diameter, and plants reach up to 120 cm in height. Large, oval-shaped petals are arranged in several rows. The buds are most often yellow.
• Ornamental. Plants can reach up to 150 cm in height. Inflorescences can vary in size, from miniature to enormous. Petals are arranged in several rows.
• Spherical. The bush can reach a height of up to 120 cm, with inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter. The flowers themselves are slightly flattened and spherical. The petals, located on the bottom row, are slightly twisted.
• Pom-pom plants are small in size. The inflorescence diameter does not exceed 7 cm. The flower shape is spherical, with petals arranged in several rows.

• Cactaceae. The bush can reach a height of up to 150 cm, with an inflorescence diameter of approximately 25 cm. The flowers are clustered in several rows and resemble cactus spines.
• Sub-cacti. This group is slightly different from the previous one. The only difference is that the petals of this variety are slightly wider.
• Mixed. Chrysanthemum-like and orchid-like dahlias are prominent representatives of this group.

Preparation and storage of tubers

You can begin work from the end of September. Once the stems have died back, the perennial dahlia tubers should be carefully removed from the ground and provided with the necessary storage conditions.

The tubers should be treated with a potassium permanganate solution. After this, they need to be dried. The tubers should be placed in a room with a temperature of -5 degrees Celsius or placed in the refrigerator.

Sawdust, sand, or peat can be used for storage. You can also use cling film. Fill the boxes with one of the chosen ingredients and place the tubers inside.

Diseases and pests

The most common flower pests are the following:

1. Aphids. You can fight this pest with a soap solution.
2. Slugs. If they appear, treat your crops with a celandine solution.
3. The most dangerous diseases are the following:

Gray mold. The first sign of the disease is the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. This is most often caused by overwatering. To protect crops, remove damaged parts and treat the plants with fungicides.

Wilting. When flowers are affected, the tubers rot. To combat this disease, pay close attention to watering.

Dahlias in landscape design

By learning the basics of planting and caring for perennial dahlias, you can create a stunningly beautiful flowerbed in your own garden. These flowers look stunning planted singly, but they can also be combined with other flowers.

1. Depending on the variety, experienced flower growers create different flower arrangements.
2. Dwarf varieties are used for groundcover plantings. They are also found in containers.
3. Tall plants are a wonderful decoration for flower beds; they are placed along fences or near the house.

Reviews

Anastasia, 54 years old:

"I used to be indifferent to dahlias. However, I came across some double-flowered seeds. I sowed them out of curiosity. Imagine my surprise when they bloomed. I decided to save them for the winter. Now I plant them every year and admire their magnificent blooms."

Victor, 43 years old:

"I only recently learned how to replant perennial dahlias. My wife and I grow flowers. We're thrilled to have such beautiful, vibrant plants in our flowerbed."

Dahlias are extremely popular, and many gardeners prefer them. Their easy cultivation and long flowering period make them a stunning flowerbed.