Hello MG’s! I took this Dahlia display by the Berryville Senior Center this morning. My Dahlia’s have been loving this cooler weather, and they were too pretty not to share! I included a couple photos of my roses. Too bad this wasn’t Fair Week! lol
Happy Monday.
Kristy Noble Tesch
Dinner Plate Dahlias that bloom year after year!!!
Sir Alfred Ramsey (Perennial) (aka: Dinner Plate Dahlia)
Dahlias grow well in this region of Arkansas. Dahlias need full sun, well-drained soil, and protection from the wind. They require regular watering, especially during hot and dry periods. Fertilize dahlias every two weeks during the growing season with a water-soluble fertilizer. Deadhead the flowers regularly to encourage new growth. There are many varieties of Dahlias to choose from.
Dahlias make nice floral arrangements, but may not last too long. Cut the dahlias during the coolest part of the day when the plants are most hydrated. Place them immediately in a bucket of water or vase after cutting. Remove the bottom leaves so none are submerged.
HOW TO CARE FOR A DAHLIA:
Spring: After the final frost and the soil has warmed you can plant your Dahlia tubers. Don’t water until you begin to see some green leaves appearing. Mulching young plants will cut down on weeding and conserve moisture.
Summer: Water so that the soil stays consistently moist. Dahlia’s will grow fine on their own but pinching back encourages plants to grow more branches, yielding more flowers. Stake early as not to disturb roots.
Fall: You will notice Dahlias having a second wind when the temperature begins to cool. After blooming is complete and there is a hard frost, dig up the tubers, divide if needed, and store for the winter or mulch heavily. In our region, they can still come back unless there would be an extremely bitter winter.
For more information on Carroll County Master Gardeners, contact Monty Rexwinkle at (870) 423-2958 or visit the web at www.ccmastergardener.org or visit our Facebook page.