Use Dahlias To Add Color In Drab Lawn and Gardens – Ag Matters

As the overnight temperatures head for the 40's, flowers of the perennial and annual style are dying off. But here comes the Dahlia to rescue your lawn or garden from a lack of color. The Master Gardeners at Cornell Cooperative Extension offer some tips of growing them and saving them for replanting next spring.

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Oneida County has a dahlia bed display blooming now in the Extension’s Parker F. Scripture Botanical Gardens. Their beautiful flower shapes, colors and texture add something special to the late season garden and will take you well into fall before the frost arrives. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from. They not only look great in the garden, but they make excellent cut flowers. In addition, they will attract butterflies.

Growing Basics: These plants need full sun and well-drained soil. If you only have part-sun, you can try the shorter varieties which can tolerate a little less sunlight. They are going to have to be watered during the hot days of summer. You want to be sure water soaks 6 to 8 inches into the soil twice a week, versus watering shallowly every day.

Saving Them For Next Spring: It is not hard to save over-winter dahlia tubers. Consider digging out the tubers after a hard frost has killed the foliage. Cut the stem off to 6 inches above the soil before digging to make handling easier. Wash off the soil and let the tubers dry for 24 hours. Once they are dry, store the tubers in a cardboard box filled with slightly damp peat moss, sand, or sawdust. Newspaper also works well. Keep your tubers in an area that stays around 40 to 50 degrees F. Check on them over the winter months. If the tubers look dry, give them a light misting. Watch out for too much moisture which will cause rot. In early spring, you can take them out, divide if needed, and plant.

The Master Gardeners at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County answer your lawn and garden questions on the Horticulture Hot Line, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon at (315) 736-3394.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension