Dazzling Dahlias

Gardening Tips for April

Tomatoes can be set out with protection. “Season Starter” will protect them down to 20°F and provide a warm environment during the day.

Plant sunflowers now from seed or plants. Choose either the multi-stemmed kinds for cut flowers or the giants for edible seeds.

Gladiolus bulbs come in every color of the rainbow. Plant them this month for summer flowers.

New rose bushes may have been damaged by cold weather. Prune back dead shoots, and new growth will emerge soon.

Put up hummingbird feeders this month to enjoy these colorful and entertaining birds.

Dahlias: A Summer Garden Favorite

Diverse and versatile, dahlias are prized for their bright-colored, summer blooms. They are one of the most varied of the summer-flowering “bulbs” and are actually tubers. Though native to Mexico, dahlias are highly adaptable.

• Simple, daisy-like flowers
• Cactus flowers with rolled petals for a spiky look
• Smaller pompon flowers with globe-shaped blooms
• Decorative dahlias with large, fluffy blooms of many pointed and twisted petals

Flowers range from 2 inches to more than 8 inches across and come in a rainbow of colors. Plants range from 8 inches to 4½ feet tall and bloom for months.

Popular Dahlia Varieties

• ‘Harlequin’ Dahlias: Small flowers, 2-3 inches across, with bicolored or solid petals. Long-lasting blooms ideal for borders and containers.
• Bedding Dahlias:
  • ‘Figaro’ Mix: Green leaves with double flowers.
  • ‘Redskin’ Mix: Dark foliage with double flowers.
• Cactus Dahlias:
  • ‘Playa Blanca’: White, 4-inch flowers all summer long.
  • ‘Purple Gem’: Rich purple, 4-6-inch cut flowers from midsummer to mid-autumn.
• Dinnerplate Dahlias:
  • ‘Kelvin Floodlight’: Bright yellow, 8-10-inch flowers on a four-foot bush.
  • ‘Garden Wonder’: Bright red, 8-10-inch flowers that bloom until frost.
• ‘Rosella’: Decorative dahlia with vivid magenta, double blooms on a 3-4 foot bush. Excellent for cut flowers and borders.

Planting and Care Instructions

Plant dahlia tubers in spring after the air and soil have warmed. They thrive in full sun on the coast but need afternoon shade inland. Use well-drained, fertile soil.

• Space larger dahlias 2 feet apart; smaller types, 12 inches apart.
• Mix composted manure into the soil at planting time.
• For tall varieties, drive a 6-foot stake into the hole, plant the tuber horizontally 2 inches from the stake with the growth eye pointing up, and cover with 3 inches of soil.
• Water well to settle the soil.
• When sprouts appear (about three weeks), top-dress with fertilizer.
• Tie growing stalks loosely to stakes with soft tie material.
• Pinch tall-growing plants at 4 to 6 inches to encourage branching.

Dahlias begin blooming two to three months after planting and continue until frost. They are ideal for cut flowers, borders, and containers, adding vibrant color to gardens and home decor.