Page 5 - NBY Cover - January 2023 Bruce Springsteen v2

Tips for Beautiful Dahlias

by Melinda Myers large flowers. Staking helps plants stay
upright, minimizes damage from wind
Growing beautiful dahlias is easier than and rain, keeps the flowers more visible,
you think. Proper planting and care will and makes it easier to deadhead. To
result in an abundance of beautiful avoid damaging the tubers, add the
blooms for you to enjoy in your garden stakes at planting time or soon after. For
and summer bouquets. Use these more information on staking and
strategies to boost your dahlia growing pinching dahlias to increase flower
success: production, read Longfield Gardens’ How
to Pinch and Stake Dahlias (Longfield-
Start Early for a Long Season of Flowers gardens.com) article.
Dahlias grow from sweet-potato-like
tuberous roots often called tubers that Feed Your Plants and Don’t Let Them
are usually planted in late spring. For Go Thirsty
earlier blooms, start your dahlias Dahlias perform best when they
indoors about four to six weeks before receive a consistent amount of moisture
the last spring frost. Use one- or two- throughout the growing season. Too
gallon pots with drainage holes. Fill much or too little water causes stress and
them with a damp growing mix and can reduce flower production. When the
cover the tip of the tubers with one to weather is dry, water deeply once or
two inches of soil. Water sparingly until twice a week, using drip irrigation, a
the sprouts emerge, which can take two soaker hose, or a watering wand. Keep
to four weeks. the foliage as dry as possible to minimize
disease. Mulching the soil with shredded
Plant Outdoors in Late Spring leaves, evergreen needles, or other
Grow dahlias as you would tomatoes. organic material will conserve moisture,
Choose a sunny location with fertile, moderate soil temperature, and suppress
well-drained soil. To encourage healthy weeds.
root growth, take time to loosen the soil Dahlias perform best when they are
in the planting area at least 12 inches well-fed. Enrich the soil with compost
deep. Don’t be in a rush to plant your and add a low-nitrogen, slow-release
dahlias. Wait until the soil is warm and fertilizer at planting time. Once the
all danger of frost has passed. plants are 12-18 inches tall, many
gardeners boost performance with an
Good air circulation encourages strong, additional slow-release fertilizer
healthy growth. Space border dahlias 15 application or several liquid fertilizer
inches apart from the center of one plant applications every three to four weeks.
to the next. Taller types should be spaced Follow the label directions for the timing
at least 18 to 24 inches on center. Plant so and application rates of the fertilizers
the top of the tuber is no more than one you select.
to two inches below the soil surface. It
can take several weeks for the first Pruning and Deadheading
sprouts to emerge, but once they do, the The more flowers you cut, the more
plants grow very quickly. flowers you’ll get. Harvesting flowers
twice a week will encourage a plentiful
Pinch for Fuller Growth and More supply of blooms. Spent flowers should
Blooms be removed immediately (deadheading)
When your dahlias reach a height of 10 to minimize pest and disease problems.
to 12 inches, use scissors or sharp Always use sharp bypass pruners or snips
pruning shears to remove the top two or to make clean cuts. If you want flowers
three sets of leaves. Pinched plants with long stems, be willing to sacrifice
produce more side branches, resulting in some side buds. Stems come back longer
sturdier growth and lots more flowers. and stronger when you cut deep into the The more dahlias you cut for bouquets, the more flowers the plant will produce.
Pinching will set the plants back by a plant and close to a main branch. Photo courtesy of Longfield-Gardens.com
week or two, but they will come back
quickly. Dahlias require a little more time and Melinda Myers has written more than 20 Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a
attention than many other flowering gardening books, including the recently columnist and contributing editor for Birds &
Stake to Avoid Broken Stems plants. But your efforts will be released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Blooms magazine and was commissioned by
handsomely rewarded with a bounty of 2 Edition and Small Space Gardening. She Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this
nd
Dahlias that grow more than three feet beautiful blooms and a sense of hosts The Great Courses ”How to Grow article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com
tall benefit from staking. This is accomplishment. Anything” DVD instant video series and the
especially true for varieties that produce nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden

New Year and New You is Under Your Control~ Regardless of Age

Don’t wait until its too late!! survey. People answered questions risk of death during the 12-year “The most important thing
Getting enough physical activity about their participation in seven study. They compared how different an inactive older adult can do to
is vital for your health at any age. different recreational activities. levels and types of physical activity improve their health is find an
Guidelines recommend that adults These included running or jogging, lowered that risk. activity that they enjoy and can
get at least 150 minutes (or two and swimming, racquet sports, golf, and Older adults who got the stick with,” says NIH researcher Dr.
a half hours) of moderate exercise walking. The survey also tracked recommended amount of activity Eleanor Watts, who led the study.
each week. But does it matter what cycling and other aerobic exercise. had a 13% lower risk of death Submitted by: www.nih.gove
types of activities you do? Participants were first surveyed in compared with those who were
Resolve to take better
A team of researchers asked this the 1990s. Their average age was inactive. Playing racquet sports Resolve to take better
Resolve to take better
Resolve to take better
Resolve to take better
question about older adults. They 70 when they responded to the last or running showed the greatest
care of the one body each
care of the one body each
care of the one body each
care of the one body each
looked at data from more than survey. risk reductions. But all activities care of the one body each
250,000 participants in a national The researchers examined the provided benefit.
of us are given
of us are given
of us are given
of us are given
of us are given
JANUARY 2023 www.nbynews.com 5