Many flower lovers have, at one time or another, gone through a great deal of expense to beautify their gardens with the best dahlias and cannas money can buy. And small wonder, for these flowers, are indeed beautiful, and they come in a size and color to suit almost everyone’s taste. But without proper winter … Read more
Whether dahlias are grown for cutting or garden display or for exhibiting at flower shows, if they are to do their best, they must be pinched or cut back about July 4 in the latitude of New York City. The procedure in the case of the average variety grown for its effect in the garden … Read more
Come a pleasant morning in late April, and I am reminded that it is time to prepare my dahlia beds to receive the tubers which have previously been divided. By the 10th of May, if the weather permits, it’s planting time in my garden. At this time of year, spring-flowering shrubs and perennials are blooming … Read more
To prepare your dahlias for winter storage, cut the stems 6” inches or so above the ground after the first killing frost. Allow tubers to remain in the ground for another week while the roots wilt slightly and the necks (the narrow, tapered end next to the stem) lose some of their brittleness. To dig … Read more
Here are the excellent Dahlia types: Single Dahlias Single dahlias have open-centered flowers, with only one row of ray florets and the margins flat or nearly so, regardless of the number of florets. Examples are: Pequot Yellow Purity Mignon Mignon is a single dahlia, the plants of which approximate 18” inches in height. Examples are: … Read more
As all good gardeners know, constant weeding is vital in the growth of all top-quality flowers, including dahlias. Then too, the soil must be kept loose and fluffy, especially after every heavy rain. It is also important to keep the plants well-watered during dry spells. Watch your soil carefully, and when it needs water, do … Read more
Each spring, many dahlia growers wonder how they can possibly keep up with the ever-increasing number of new dahlias offered each year. Growing all new varieties is out of the question for most of us. But we want to grow some of them, at least. How much can we get for what we can spend? … Read more
If luck is with us – in the guise of lovely, sunny weather—this will be one of the busiest and one of the most enjoyable outdoor months of the year. Just to name a few of the chores: All hardy and half-hardy annuals and vegetables to be seeded Lawn feeding and reseeding to be attended … Read more
Fall Lawns This is a good time to kill next year’s crop of common chickweed, Poa annua, and crabgrass. First, apply a pre-emergence crabgrass control after October 15. This will kill tiny seedlings of winter annuals like Poa annua and common chickweed (now germinating), and next spring will work equally well on crabgrass. Fall-seeded lawns … Read more