Dahlias specifically take a bit of work but will give you so much color throughout the summer and fall that the work will feel like a summers day breeze. Along with their beauty, they also come in many varieties to choose from, convenient for all green thumbs! They can be purchased at many nurseries or garden stores and are typically rather affordable. Dahlias require a spot with good drainage and partial-to-full sun and most will need to be staked up and placed as you plant the bulbs. You will want to plant these gorgeous flowers as soon as the weather permits and the ground is soft.

Plant the Dahlia tuber several inches in the ground with the “eye” facing up (the “eye” is the spot that the plant grows). If you are planting several, they should be planted about two feet apart so that they have room to grow. Young plants do not require a lot of water because an excess can cause the bulbs to rot. 



Once established, your Dahlia’s can be watered a little more, with supervision. Tie your plants to the stake every little bit as it grows as the stalks and blooms can be very heavy. Mostly, the plants will grow with three buds on a branch but for larger flowers, remove the two smaller buds to let the larger one grow into larger flowers. Or, you can let all buds grow into smaller flowers. At the end of the season after the first frost, you can dig up the bulbs and store them in a cool, dark place (above freezing) to use for next year. You will find when you dig them up that they have produced more tubers that can be split up for more plants the following year.