In the Dahlia Garden - by Linda Ernst

September is finally here, and this is the month when we should be able to enjoy our Dahlias in all their glory! After the challenges of this growing season, I think we have certainly earned it. 

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This has been a very difficult year in my Dahlia garden. We had extreme heat early in the season, and then came the rain. While I was out of the country, we received approximately six inches of rain in just two or three days. Unfortunately, my irrigation system didn't know I was away—or that Mother Nature had decided to take over the watering duties. It continued watering as though we were experiencing a drought!

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The combination was devastating for some of my new tubers. Twelve new tubers that had struggled to get established before the extreme heat simply didn't have a chance. The heat shut them down, and then the tremendous amount of water finished them off.

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Thankfully, many of our members have had much better luck, and their gardens are looking wonderful. Now we can all hope that September's cooler nights will give our Dahlias the energy they need to put on the spectacular fall show we have been waiting for.

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Should We Still Be Fertilizing?

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As the days become shorter, our Dahlias are naturally shifting their energy toward producing flowers. This isn't the time to heavily fertilize in hopes of forcing more growth.

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If your plants are healthy and blooming well, they probably don't need much fertilizer at this point. If they appear to need a little boost early in September, a light application of a balanced fertilizer can be helpful. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can encourage more foliage rather than flowers.

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As we move farther into fall, I would gradually back away from fertilizing and let the plants concentrate on what we really want now—beautiful blooms!

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How Should We Water in September?

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September watering is all about paying attention to what your garden actually needs.

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Our Dahlias still need consistent moisture while they are actively growing and flowering, but they don't need to stay constantly wet. Check the soil before watering. If it is dry several inches down, give the plants a good, deep watering. If we have received a significant amount of rain, let the soil dry somewhat before watering again. As the temperatures cool, the plants will generally need less water. Container-grown Dahlias will continue to dry out more quickly than those in the ground, so keep an especially close eye on them.

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Watch for Fungal Problems

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With cooler nights, heavy morning dew and the possibility of continued humidity and rain, September can be a good month for fungal problems to show up in the Dahlia garden.

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Keep an eye on the leaves for spots, yellowing, powdery growth or leaves that are beginning to die back prematurely. Good air circulation is one of our best defenses, so remove badly damaged or diseased foliage and try to keep the plants from becoming too crowded.

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Whenever possible, water at the base of the plants rather than spraying the foliage. Morning watering is best because it allows the leaves to dry during the day. Avoid working in the garden when the foliage is wet, since this can spread disease from one plant to another.

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If you see signs of a fungal problem, don't wait too long to address it. Remove affected leaves and dispose of them rather than leaving them on the ground around the plants. A fungicide labeled for use on Dahlias may also be appropriate, particularly if fungal problems have been persistent in your garden. Always follow the product label carefully.

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And remember, prevention is much easier than trying to rescue a plant once a fungal problem has taken hold. A little extra attention in September can help keep those plants healthy long enough to give us the beautiful fall blooms we are hoping for.

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Cutting Dahlias for Arrangements

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September is also the perfect time to bring some of that beauty indoors.

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Dahlias are best cut in the early morning, when the plants are well hydrated. Look for flowers that are fresh in full bloom.

Cut the stems as long as possible and place them immediately into a clean container of warm water. Remove any foliage that would be below the water line.

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Allow the flowers to condition in a cool place for several hours before arranging them. Keeping the water clean and changing it regularly will help extend their vase life.

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And don't be afraid to cut your flowers! Regular cutting encourages the plant to produce more blooms. If you have more than you can use, share them with a friend. There are few things more beautiful than a bouquet of Dahlias from the garden.

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Getting Ready for the Carolina Classic Flower Show

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September means it's time to start thinking about the Carolina Classic Flower Show! Everyone should have registered by September 8 (extended to the 8th) the Dahlias they think they might want to show. But don't worry if you don't have a particular flower that you were planning to enter. You don't need to have your perfect show flower figured out at registration time.

 

Think of the September 8th registration as letting us know which varieties you might want to enter. As the flowers develop, you can watch your plants and decide which blooms have the qualities you are looking for.

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Now is the time to walk through your garden regularly and look for promising buds. Pay attention to plants that are producing strong stems and well-formed blooms. Stake or support stems when necessary, keep your plants watered appropriately, deadhead spent flowers and continue watching for insects and disease.

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You never know which flower is going to surprise you!

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When show time approaches, select blooms that are fresh, fully developed and free of damage. Cut them early in the morning and condition them carefully before transporting them to the show.

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Finally, We Get to Enjoy Them!

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After the heat, the rain and all the challenges this growing season has thrown at us,

September should be our reward.

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Those cooler nights can make an amazing difference. Dahlias that looked tired and stressed during the heat can suddenly seem to come back to life. New buds appear, stems strengthen and the garden begins producing the beautiful flowers we have been waiting for.

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And if your garden didn't perform as well as you hoped this year, don't be discouraged. Sometimes there isn't much we can do when Mother Nature decides to turn up the heat—and then send six inches of rain while we're out of the country!

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I lost twelve new tubers this year, and there were certainly moments when I wondered why I

grow these flowers.

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But I know what is going to happen.

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When September arrives and those beautiful Dahlias begin blooming, I'll forget about the heat.

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I'll forget about the rain.

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I'll even forget about those twelve tubers.

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And I'll probably start thinking about which new varieties I need to try next year!

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That's the life of a Dahlia grower.

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So enjoy September. Cut some flowers for your house, share some with friends, watch for those special blooms and, if you're entering the Carolina Classic Flower Show, start paying close attention to your garden.

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We've worked hard for these flowers. Now it's time to enjoy them! 🌸              Linda

If you are looking at your Dahlia garden right now and wondering what happened to those beautiful, lush plants you imagined back in the spring, you are not alone!

 

This has been a difficult gardening year. We had extreme heat early in the season, followed by a whole lot of rain—and August has arrived with plenty of heat still hanging around. I think most of us are praying for those cooler nighttime temperatures that will allow our Dahlias to take a deep breath, re-energize and remind us why we love growing them!

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I have a confession to make. Every July, after struggling through the heat and humidity, I would tell myself, “I am never growing these flowers again!” Then September would arrive, the temperatures would cool down, the garden would come alive, and somehow I would completely forget how miserable July and August had been. I am hoping that will be true again this year!

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Just Keep Them Alive!

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There is an old saying among Dahlia growers that sometimes the goal during the hottest part of summer is simply to keep the plants alive until cooler weather arrives. There is a lot of truth to that!

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Dahlias can slow down considerably when temperatures remain high, especially when nighttime temperatures stay warm. Don't be discouraged if your plants don't look as vigorous as they did earlier in the season. Once the nights begin to cool, they often respond with renewed growth and an abundance of flowers.

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In the meantime, there are a few things we can do to help them through this challenging period.

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Water, Water, Water—but Don't Drown Them

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With all the rain we've had, it may seem strange to talk about watering, but rainfall isn't always evenly distributed. Check the soil before watering, especially if your garden has received several days of rain.

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Dahlias need consistent moisture, particularly during hot weather, but they don't like sitting in soggy soil. Good drainage is essential. If the soil is still wet several inches below the surface, let it dry out a bit before adding more water.

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When you do water, water deeply rather than giving the plants a quick sprinkle. Morning is generally the best time to water so the foliage has a chance to dry during the day.

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And remember—container-grown Dahlias can dry out much faster than those planted in the ground, so keep a close eye on them!

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Keep Deadheading

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It may be tempting to walk past the garden and say, “I'll deal with those later,” but keeping spent flowers removed is one of the easiest ways to encourage continued blooming.

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Don't just remove the flower petals. Follow the stem down to where it meets another set of leaves or a branching point and cut there. Your plants will look better, and you'll encourage them to put their energy into producing more blooms.

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Fertilizer: Don't Overdo It

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During periods of extreme heat, our Dahlias are under stress. This is not the time to push them with excessive fertilizer.

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If your plants are growing well and the soil is healthy, they may not need much additional fertilizer right now. Too much nitrogen can encourage lots of foliage at the expense of flowers. As temperatures begin to moderate, a light feeding can help support the renewed growth we are hoping to see.

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Keep an Eye Out for Pests and Disease

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Heat, humidity and frequent rain create perfect conditions for many garden problems.

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Continue checking your plants regularly for insects, especially on the undersides of leaves. Also watch for signs of fungal disease or other problems caused by prolonged moisture and poor air circulation.

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Remove badly damaged or diseased foliage when appropriate, and avoid working among wet plants whenever possible. Good air circulation around the plants can make a big difference.

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Don't Give Up on Those Plants!

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This is probably the most important advice I can give you in August.

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Your garden may not look perfect right now. Some plants may look tired, leaves may be showing the effects of the heat, and the rain may have caused its own set of problems. But don't give up!

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Our goal right now is to keep those plants healthy enough to take advantage of the cooler weather when it finally arrives. When the nights begin to cool, Dahlias often seem to come back to life. New growth appears, buds develop and suddenly—almost magically—the garden is filled with flowers again.

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And this year, we have another reason to keep going: the Carolina Classic Flower Show!

Those beautiful fall blooms don't happen by accident. The care we give our plants now can make a difference when it is time to select those special flowers for the show.

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So keep watering when needed, keep deadheading, keep watching for pests and disease, and try not to complain too loudly to your Dahlias. They are probably just as unhappy about the heat as we are!

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Hopefully, cooler nights are just around the corner. And when September arrives and our gardens begin producing those gorgeous blooms, I'm willing to bet that most of us will once again say:

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“I don't remember August being THAT bad. Maybe I'll plant even more Dahlias next year!”

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Hang in there, Dahlia friends. Fall is coming—and with it, hopefully, an abundance of

beautiful blooms!

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Happy Gardening! 🌸              Linda

If July could talk, it would probably say, "Good luck!"

By now, the excitement of spring planting has faded into a distant memory. The lush green plants thatpromised armloads of spectacular blooms are now standing in what feels like a sauna with no airconditioning. The North Carolina Piedmont has settled into its favorite summer pattern—temperatures thatmake you sweat just walking to the mailbox and humidity thick enough to swim through.

If you're new to growing dahlias, don't panic. If you're an experienced grower, you're probably alreadychecking the weather forecast every five minutes, hoping to see a cold front that never seems to arrive.

I'll admit it. Every July I have the same conversation with myself.

"That's it. I'm done. I'm not growing dahlias next year."

Then September arrives, the weather cools, the blooms explode, and somehow I forget every miserableJuly. It's apparently a condition shared by many dahlia growers.

Someone once gave me the best advice I've ever heard about July gardening:

"Just keep them alive until cooler weather gets here."

That simple statement completely changed how I look at this time of year. July isn't about perfection—it'sabout survival.

Fortunately, being a member of the Central Carolina Dahlia Society has taught me plenty of tricks forhelping dahlias make it through our long, hot summer.

Water Wisely
Deep watering is far better than a quick daily sprinkle. Water slowly so the moisture reaches the root zone. Early morning is the best time, allowing plants to absorb water before the afternoon heat arrives while reducing the chance of disease.

Mulch Is Your Friend

A few inches of mulch helps keep the soil cooler, reduces evaporation, and gives your plants a fighting chance when the thermometer starts climbing. Think of it as sunscreen for the roots.

Keep Feeding...But Don't Overdo It
Continue fertilizing, but avoid pushing excessive leafy growth during the hottest weather. A balanced feeding schedule is plenty. Your plants are working hard enough just trying to survive.

Stay Ahead of Pests
Unfortunately, insects love July almost as much as they love dahlias. Continue checking for spider mites, thrips, aphids, and Japanese beetles. Spider mites especially enjoy hot, dry conditions and can multiply before you know they're there. Regular inspections and timely spraying, when needed, can prevent major damage.

Deadhead Regularly
Removing spent blooms encourages the plant to keep producing flowers instead of making seeds. Besides, it makes the garden look like you actually know what you're doing.

Don't Panic Over a Few Ugly Leaves
Some yellowing lower leaves are perfectly normal during extreme heat. Every leaf doesn't have to look like it belongs in a gardening magazine. Your goal right now is healthy plants—not beauty pageant winners.

Support Those Tall Plants
Summer thunderstorms can appear with little warning. Check your stakes and ties often. It's much easier to tighten a few ties today than to rescue broken plants tomorrow. 

Be Patient
Perhaps the hardest advice of all.

Many dahlias simply pause during the worst heat of summer. They aren't quitting—they're conserving energy. Once cooler nights finally arrive, they'll reward your patience with some of the most beautiful blooms of the season.

July may test your patience, your endurance, and occasionally your sanity. You'll question why you chose a hobby that involves standing outside in 95-degree heat battling mosquitoes while carrying a watering wand.

But then one perfect bloom opens.
Then another.

Before long, September arrives, the garden comes alive, and you'll be planning next year's additions like July never happened.

Funny how that works. 

 

Happy Gardening! 🌸              Linda