Lush dahlias turn out to be the dominant element of the garden. For a plant to show all its charm, it needs to be cared for. Novice summer residents often do not know whether it is necessary to cut off stepchildren from dahlias and how to form dahlias. Agronomists answer that a perennial crop grown from tubers needs shaping pruning. The work of removing excess greenery is quite simple, but has its own characteristics.

Agrotechnics of garden perennials

The culture is characterized by intensive growth, good immunity, long flowering. The first thing to look out for when planting is a worthy place in the garden. Flowers are tall, large. They require a garden bed that is publicly visible. But the place should not be windy and without airy masses. It is best to plant the planting material in a sunny area or light partial shade, away from groundwater.

Dahlias

Planting perennials in open ground takes place strictly in spring, when the soil warms up enough (up to +16 degrees). The month of May is suitable. At the same time, an annual flower is planted. Planting material (tubers or seed) is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The land should be loose, fertile. Compost and ash are added to the soil. A little manure is placed at the bottom of the hole (its depth is about 50 cm), on which a layer of garden soil is thrown. Experienced gardeners recommend using only organics for planting activities. Mineral fertilizers should be applied in the middle of summer. The tubers are buried 15-18 cm into the ground. Next, the pit is filled with soil mixture. The place is mulched. Sawdust mixed with peat is ideal as mulch.

Additional Information. Tall perennials are planted at a meter distance from each other. It is impossible to thicken the planting. They also need support.

Proper care includes:

  • measures to saturate the earth with moisture;
  • timely weeding;
  • loosening the trunk circle;
  • top dressing;
  • shaping, pinching;
  • garters to the support.

How to pinch dahlias

Watering is organized once every 3-4 days. As for dressings, in the middle and late summer, mineral mixtures are introduced under the growing bushes, in which phosphorus and potassium predominate. There should be a minimum amount of nitrogen. Otherwise, the gardener will not wait for flower hats, but the greenery of the bush will be extremely lush.

Agrotechnics of domestic perennials

The culture is also suitable for growing at home or on the balcony. In order to grow an abundantly flowering plant, you need a large, sturdy and stable pot. The success of the business depends on the organization of the drainage system. Dahlias will quickly wither away in waterlogged soil that lacks oxygen. The pot must have drainage holes, the bottom layer must be formed from stones and coffee filters. The soil is selected fertile, loose.

Dahlias Cheerful Guys - description, planting and care

Just like garden flowers, a home flower bed needs watering, loosening, feeding and other activities.

Note! For home cultivation, it is recommended to select undersized varieties, as well as species that have a not very growing root system.

Why stepchild culture

Florists claim that pinching dahlias is a must-have for caring for bushes. This is an integral part of the formation of dahlias. Thanks to this manipulation, gardeners can achieve a gorgeous spreading bush, abundantly strewn with flowers. Pruning dahlias in the summer involves optimal distribution of nutrients throughout the plant. By cutting off unnecessary shoots, the crop receives more energy in the formation of buds and maximizes its flowering potential. The appearance of the culture after the procedure improves, the resistance to viruses, fungi, harmful insects increases.

If you do not pinch dahlias, then the flower will spend energy on feeding all parts of the plant

How to pinch tomatoes

If you refuse to pinch dahlias, then the culture will spend energy on feeding all parts of the plant. As a result, more than half of the buds will not bloom, and those that bloom will turn out to be medium-sized and exhausted. In addition, the problem with a heavily overgrown bush is that the tuberous roots will not dig up nutrients and may not survive the winter. Weakened tubers often rot and deteriorate.

Important! The formation of dahlias must be carried out only by those gardeners who grow tall bushes in the plots (the length of the stems is about 2 meters), as well as plants with an average height (about a meter).

Correct pruning

How to store dahlias in winter

How to pinch dahlias in detail?

The simple process contains a number of important nuances, including:

  1. The work to remove emerald sprouts appearing in the leaf axils starts in June and early July. By this time, the bush begins to grow. Its size is 30-50 cm. On the stems there are 3-6 pairs of leaves.
  2. The procedure is carried out every 10-15 days, before the bush pours the buds.
  3. Passion-picking takes place in the morning. It is recommended to do this before 9-10 am. Do not cut an extra flower sprout early in the morning, when dew accumulates on the greenery.

Dahlia pruning

Step-by-step instruction

  • Stepchildren located on the lower three to four pairs of leaves are removed with a clean sharp knife. The procedure resembles the work of pinching tomatoes.
  • Depending on the height of the plant, stepchildren are left in the upper part of the bush. In a tall plant, it is recommended to refuse to cut off stepchildren on the top 2-3 pairs of leaves.
  • The procedure is repeated on all stems of the plant.
  • On the day of pinching, you do not need to organize watering.

How to form perennial dahlias

In addition to pinching, the process of forming a bush includes other activities, for example:

  1. topping;
  2. removal of trunks;
  3. trimming leaves.

Topping

Before pinching dahlias, you should identify the formed tops in which the buds are laid. If the tops are underdeveloped, they are left to grow. The tops 2-4 cm high are pinched, that is, cut to the base of the upper pair of leaves.

How to pinch a dahlia correctly

Note! Thanks to this manipulation, the growth of the shoot is inhibited for some time. Nutrients are consumed for the development of branches and the laying of new buds. If you do not pinch, instead of a spreading bush with a lot of flowering caps, a giant stem with one or two massive flowers will grow.

Pruning shoots

To make the bush look well-groomed, bloom early and have the strength to form lush flowers, excess shoots are removed. The scheme is as follows: 3-5 stems are left, the rest are cut with a sharp knife at the root.

Removing leaves and buds

Some gardeners ignore this procedure and consider it unnecessary. However, as practice shows, the removal of the lower leaf pairs allows the root collar of the flower to ripen as much as possible and provide the tubers with a supply of nutrition.

How to prune dahlias in the summer correctly? Mainly 2-3 pairs of lower leaves are cut. So the root collar and stem open up and ventilate as much as possible. Excess buds are removed in order to feed stronger and more developed brethren.

Controlling the growth of dahlia bushes

Experienced gardening tips

  1. Before shaping and pinning dahlias, you should examine the bushes. If traces of pests are visible, or there are symptoms of the disease, you should postpone the pruning of dahlias in the summer. Treatment is organized first.
  2. All stepson pruning activities are carried out with clean, sharp and disinfected instruments. This will prevent pathogenic microorganisms from infecting the plant.
  3. Before pruning dahlias for better flowering, you need to pay attention to the weather. The day should be fine, moderately windy, sunny, not rainy.
  4. After the formation of the bush has been completed, the sections are sprayed with fungicidal agents. Suitable for Abiga peak, Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol, Albit, etc.
  5. Next, the plant must be allowed time to dry. It is because of this that it is recommended that all activities be carried out in clear weather.

To understand how to form a dahlia bush correctly, you need to know not only the scheme of work, but also the nuances. Grassing and removing excess greenery are essential for the development of a healthy and robust flowering plant.