Dahlias do not produce one kind of flower. There are twelve different flower forms with blooms ranging from ten inches in diameter on the decorative (dinner plate) type down to the one inch pompons. The pompons may be only one foot tall while the dinner plate forms are up to six or seven feet tall. All are hybrids of two or three plants brought up from Mexico and South America in the 1800s. And, all are deer and rodent resistant.

As with all bulbs, dahlias perform best in a rich, well drained soil. This means that our heavy clay soil has to be amended. Ideally, the whole bed is amended by covering it with 2 to 3 inches of an amendment such as Gold Rush, Bumper Crop, Forest Blend, steer manure, horse manure or rice hulls. Next sprinkle gypsum over the area at ten pounds per 100 square feet and Master Start Fertilizer at five pounds per 250 square feet. A little more or less is all right, but don’t short change the amendment. Next, dig or roto-till these components together to a depth of six to eight inches. If you are unable to amend the whole bed, then amend each hole with the same materials before planting your bulbs.

Dahlias should not be planted as individuals. Rather, plant them in groups of six or more with short varieties in front, tall varieties in back and 24 to 48 inches apart. Dahlias need six or more hours of full sun each day.

The following directions are for decorative type dahlias which will grow to six or more feet tall. Dig the hole in your bed about two feet in diameter and 12 inches deep. Amend the bottom of the hole with about three inches of the mix and stir to combine with an equal amount of native soil. Lay the bulbs attached to a piece of the crown at the bottom of the hole. We usually refer to the swollen root parts as bulbs when in actuality they are tuberous roots (yes, edible). There are no buds or sprouts on these swollen parts. If you plant one of these roots it will rot and die, so you might as well throw loose bulbs away. When you are planting dahlias, you must include a piece of the bottom of last year’s stem (called the crown,) which contains buds that grow into a new plant. The swollen roots only provide food for the young plant.

A one-inch stake six or seven feet long should be driven into the soil next to the dahlia bulbs. Cover the bulbs with about three inches of soil and firm gently. Water well and as the young plants grow, fill in with the soil and amendment mix. Remove the lowermost leaves as they become covered. When the soil level in the hole reaches the top, build a berm around the plant to hold water and irrigate as needed during the summer. Do not let the plants wilt or you may lose all of the flower buds that have formed. Irrigate long enough for water to sink in 12 to 16 inches. Fertilize every month with Master Nursery Bulb Food or Master Nursery Rose and Flower Food or Liquid fish fertilizer. Do not use a high nitrogen fertilizer. Master Nursery or Dr. Earth fertilizers work equally well.

If you start your dahlias by mid-March, they should start to bloom by mid-summer and continue until October or November. Cut flowers for table use or at least dead-head to maintain continuous bloom. Flowers for table use should be cut in the afternoon and placed immediately into water. All except the last two leaves next to the flower should be removed. Using a ‘flower fresh’ product or similar solution will help to prolong the blooms indoors.

By October, your dahlias will be looking rather tired. They will probably have mildew and be producing few flowers. Leave them alone and let them go dormant. Dahlia bulbs can be left in the ground for up to two or three years and then they must be dug, stored and replanted the following spring. At the end of each year’s growth, the original bulbs have died and a new series of bulbs has formed on top of the old ones. After a few years, the bulbs are at the surface and cannot support the plant.

When it is time to dig your Dahlia bulbs in late September or October, make about a two foot diameter hole and carefully lift out the root mass. A spading fork is a good tool. Hose off any loose soil but do not separate the clump. If possible, soak the whole mass in a 9 to 1 solution of water and bleach for about 2 minutes to inhibit fungus. Store the root mass in a compost pile or sawdust or similar material over the winter. Keep the compost, etc. just barely moist. Never store in a plastic bag. By March, new sprouts should be visible at the base of the old stem. The plant can be divided at this time. Cut the stem so that one or two sprouts and two to five bulbs are all joined into one awkward arrangement. This cluster is placed in the bottom of the 12 inch hole as described above and the cycle is started again.

Dahlias are relatively disease resistant and pest free. However, by August, the first signs of mildew may appear on the lower parts of the plants. Either strip off the lowest one foot of leaves or spray the plant with sulfur. Cucumber beetles look like ‘lady bugs’ except they are green and black instead of orange and black. They travel on the flowers and eat holes in the petals. Spray with malathion, Orthene, pryrethrum or Sevin or pick them off by hand.

Enjoy your dahlias.

There is a wealth of information available at your gardening fingertips 24/7! Wegman's has a website that features Monthly Gardening Tips, over 50 Care Guides ranging from information about orchids to a spray guide for your fruit trees, as well as links to other informative websites. If you are an avid weekly reader of Wegman's newsletter you will love our website! You can even order Gift Cards.

Check it out: www.WegmansNursery.com

Advance Tickets for the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show on sale at Wegman's!

The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show is an entertaining floral funfest for you and all of your friends. You will see thousands and thousands of flowers and plants with all their rich colors, fragrances and textures. Explore five acres of inspiring gardens landscaping and patios. Over 70 free demonstrations and seminars for all gardening levels. Shop for specialty plants, gifts and gardening supplier from over 250 exhibits.

You are invited to join the fun at the Cow Palace March 12-16. Advance tickets are on sale at Wegman’s. Advance ticket price $17 for adults through Tuesday, March 15th. On Wednesday, March 16th the price goes to $20 for adults. Youth tickets are available for $4.

Come check out our selection of Japanese maples, which includes unique varieties in small sizes as well as specimen sizes. We carry 'Bonfire', 'Burgundy Lace', F'ireglow', 'Emperor I, 'Oshio Beni', 'Red Dragon, 'Shaina', 'Seiryu', 'Shishigashira', 'Sango Kaku', 'Crimson Queen', 'Garnet', 'Inable Shidare', 'Tamukeyama', 'Viridis', and 'Waterfall'.

The term "Japanese maple" mainly refers to cultivated varieties of Acer palmatum and its close relatives. The parent of all these varieties was a species Acer palmatum. There are over 1000 cultivated varieties (cultivars) displaying a great variety in size, habit, leaf shape and color, texture, and fall coloration. There are cultivars suitable for most cultural situations, including sun, shade, container growing, and bonsai. Japanese maples are small enough to fit into most gardens, and although they cannot be grown as houseplants, they will thrive in a pot on a patio. In some cases, you don't even need more than one.

Cold Hardy Tomato Varieties have Arrived!

Our Bedding Department has just received the first delivery of cold hardy tomato varieties. With the cold weather behind us and spring around the corner, you can plant these early tomatoes in your garden this weekend.

Corn Gluten Meal was discovered in 1986 to have the ability to inhibit the germination of grass and weed seeds in test plots at the Iowa State University Research Foundation. Further tests revealed that corn gluten meal contains naturally occurring substances which inhibit the growth of the seed's tiny feeder roots, causing the weed seedlings to die before they ever have a chance to grow. Corn Gluten Meal is an animal feed by-product of the manufacture of corn starch. Used as directed, Weed Prevention Plus is safe around people, pets, and wildlife. Weed PreventionPlus will not harm beneficial insects, soil organisms, ponds or stream life.

Application Recommendations:
Apply 10-20 lbs. per 1000 square feet in the Fall for pre-emergent protection. Weed Prevention Plus is granulated and easy to apply with a spreader or you can apply with the 5 lb. shaker bag to small garden areas. Homogenous pellet provides uniform nutrient and herbicide distribution.

Recommended for the control of curlydock, purslane, clover, dandelions, crabgrass and many other common weeds. Proper application provides up to 90% effective weed control in the first year for dandelions and crabgrass.  Safe for children, pets and wildlife immediately after application. Can be applied at any time without burning. Water thoroughly after application, then allow to dry for 2-3 days.

Price: 5 lb. Shaker bag—$15.99/25 lb bag–$28.99 (covers 1500 sq ft)