Dear Gardeners:

Dahlias are bright and beautiful. And for all their packed petals saturated in rainbow hues, they are straightforward, simple, and easy to grow. Full sun, good drainage, rich soil, and plenty of water are really all that's required to grow the majority of Dahlias available to gardeners.

I adore those Dahlias that look complicated and bold. Despite their ease of cultivation, they never fail to convince friends and family that they must require loads of horticultural skill. The orange and yellow Dahlia called 'Pooh' is definitely one of those deceptively simple plants. Simple deadheading is all that's needed to keep 'Pooh' blooming all summer long.

The two new Dahlias 'Lucky Face' and 'Lucky Stripe' are fast growers and intensely floriferous. Their bold speckled petals stand out a mile in the garden. "Wow" is the most common comment heard near these plants!

Despite the simplicity of most Dahlias, there is a group that is a bit more complicated. The Giant Dinner Plate Dahlias need an extra helping hand to achieve their massive flowers. As the plants emerge in spring, they need to be pruned down to a single stem. As the plant continues to grow, any side branches should be pruned away. Dahlias love to produce flower buds; however, all but one bud should be clipped away. This remaining bud will be the sole beneficiary of all the energy the plant can produce, swelling it to mammoth proportions.

Happy Gardening,
The Bulb Lady®