Growing Instructions


🌼  Dahlia Growing Instructions

Dahlias are one of the most rewarding flowers to grow — vibrant, long-flowering and endlessly beautiful. With a little seasonal care, you can enjoy strong growth and stunning blooms year after year.

🌱 Summer (December – February)

Peak blooming season

  • Watering: Deeply water 2–3 times a week, allowing soil to dry slightly between        waterings.
  • Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2–3 weeks to encourage continuous flowering.
  • Deadheading: Remove spent blooms regularly to promote new flowers.
  • Support: Tall varieties need staking to keep stems upright and prevent snapping.
  • Pests: Watch for aphids, earwigs and caterpillars — treat early with eco-friendly options.

🍂 Autumn (March – May)


  • Continue watering until the foliage begins to yellow.
  • Once the first frost blackens the leaves, cut plants back to about 10–15cm above the ground.
  • Carefully lift tubers if you’re in a frost-prone area, shake off excess soil, and let them dry in a cool, airy spot for a few days.
  • Store tubers in dry sawdust, coco peat or vermiculite in a frost-free place over winter.
  • In frost-free regions, you can leave tubers in the ground — just mulch well for protection.


❄️ Winter (June – August)

  •  Check stored tubers every few weeks for rot or shrivelling — discard any damaged ones.
  • Keep storage medium just moist to prevent drying out.
  • If tubers are in the ground, ensure good drainage and top up mulch to protect from  cold.
  • This is a good time to plan new garden layouts or order new dahlia varieties for         next season.


🌸 Spring (September – November)

When the danger of frost has passed and soil warms up (around mid to late October to Christmas), it’s time to plant tubers.

  • Choose a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil.
  • Dig in compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
  • Plant tubers about 10–15cm deep, with the eye (growth point) facing up.
  • Space plants 30–40cm apart depending on the variety.
  • Water lightly until shoots appear, then increase as growth takes off.
  • Pinch out the growing tip when plants reach about 30cm tall to encourage bushier growth.


💚  General Tips

  • Sun: Dahlias love full sun — aim for at least 6 hours daily.
  • Soil: Free-draining and rich in organic matter.
  • Mulch: Helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  • Fertiliser: Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers; too much nitrogen produces lush leaves but fewer flowers. We use a fertiliser high in potash.
  • Propagation: Divide clumps spring before planting. You May wish to lift your tubes