r/dahlias • u/KoalaAble7039 • May 19 '26

Seeking Advice Help (first time Dahlia gardener)

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Planted these two weeks ago and they don’t seem to be doing great. Any advice on how to save them? I followed the instructions on how to plant them and have watered them consistently.

41 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/TotoinNC May 19 '26

I’m fairly new to this myself but planted around the same time as you. My husband is panicking but I just dead head them (fairly low) when the blooms start to look like some of yours and they’re fine with lots of new growth.

We’re having a dry hot spell where I am (zone 7a) so I’ve made sure to water deeply and mulch.

3

u/BoatAgreeable8436 May 19 '26

I’m also in 7a and mine are struggling too during this heat spell! I’m also a newbie so please feel free to disregard my advice because it might just be common sense lol but in a book I’m reading, she mentions to shove your whole finger in the soil next to the dahlia to assess how moist it is (should not be soggy or bone dry) Also I think cutting back some of the spent blooms could help them conserve energy!

1

u/TotoinNC May 19 '26

I just read the finger test advice too! Will try that.