Things You'll Need:
- Mulch
- low nitrogen fertilizer
- plant stakes or tomato cages
-
Step 1
Stake tall dahlia varieties at planting time. The stake should be slightly off center in the planting hole and 5 to 6 feet high. Or, insert a tomato cage around a young plant to support future growth.
-
Step 2
Promote deep root growth by watering deeply. Fill up the earthen bowl around the plant with water, allowing it to seep deep into the earth. Continue regular watering throughout the active growth period. Water when soil 2 inches below the surface feels dry to the touch.
-
Step 3
Apply a low nitrogen fertilizer (0-10-10) when the first buds appear on the foliage. One application of fertilizer during the growing season should be adequate if the plants are in rich, fast draining soil. Granular low-nitrogen fertilizer can also be incorporated into the hole at planting time.
-
Step 4
Apply a layer of mulch over the root zone to conserve water, discourage weed growth and eliminate manual cultivation of the soil which may injure roots growing near the surface.
-
Step 5
Remove faded flowers as they appear. Cut the faded flower stalk all the way back to the main stem to improve appearance.
-
Step 6
Cut dahlia flowers to use indoors. It's ok to remove part of the main stem when harvesting the beautiful flowers, just make sure that you don't leave stubs or bare stems on the plant. Cuts should be made close to the leaf joint to encourage new growth.
-
Step 7
Dig up and store dahlia tubers every autumn in regions where the soil freezes. In milder climates, dig up and divide tubers every few years to keep the plants strong and healthy. (See related eHows.)
