How to shape dahlias for the right bush
Content:
Dahlia is a beautiful plant with bright, rounded flowers that is grown in gardens. Because of its visual appeal, it is often presented in bouquets. In the process of growing, you need to know how to shape dahlias to give the desired shape to the bush and how to provide it with proper care.
Why pinch a plant
Dahlias are fast growing. The stunted annual species are easy to care for. When flowers appear, they do not grow much, but take the form of a neat low bush. Plants are convenient to grow in pots and containers.
Dahlia formation
Medium and tall perennials grow more slowly. Adult plants form tall and voluminous shrubs, so caring for them is more difficult. For rapid flowering, the formation of a certain shape and regulation of the height of the stems, the following procedures are carried out:
- pinching;
- pinching shoots;
- removal of dahlia buds and leaves.
Formation methods
Growing medium and tall types of plants, you need to understand that without proper care, they can look unpresentable. The formation of dahlias contributes to giving them a decorative look.
The process includes several stages: pinching, pinching, removing leaves and buds. Each of them must be given enough attention to achieve not only a beautiful bush shape, but also a bright, fast flowering. The following explains the process of forming a dahlia bush step by step.
How and when to pinch dahlias
Pinching dahlias is a painstaking job. Knowing how to pinch perennial dahlias will help you not to damage them. A plant should have 1 to 3 branches for good flowering. The procedure helps to stop the growth of the main stem so that other branches grow better and faster. Additional flowers appear on them.
The pinching procedure is carried out with garden shears. They must be clean so that no infection gets on the bush. If the cultivation is aimed at obtaining seeds, then the plant does not need to be pinched.
Pinching procedure
Pinch the shoots in the morning when they are full of moisture and break easily. It is necessary to ensure that there is no dew in the garden during the procedure. Excessive moisture makes flowers sensitive to external influences. An infection can easily get into the damaged areas of the stem, which will harm the bush.
To pinch a plant, you need:
- Cut off shoots that look weak and drooping.
- Leave up to 3 sturdy shoots intact.
- Pinch the main growth site above the fourth pair of leaves to stimulate the side shoots.
- Remove new growth, 2 and 3 pairs of leaves.
The pinching is stopped when 4 branches appear on the side.
How to pinch dahlias - in detail
The procedure strengthens the bush and accelerates flowering. The stepsons must be removed before the first flowers appear. In order not to harm the plant, young shoots are cut off at their very base.
For pinching you should:
- Cut off the lateral shoots that appear in the leaf axils. The stepchildren, which appeared in the axils of the fourth pair of leaves, are left by the flower growers. Inflorescences appear on them.
- Remove new secondary shoots on top of two leaves. The stepsons do not cut off to the side of them.
The procedure for pinching dahlias should be carried out up to 4 times a month. The exact amount depends on the growth rate of the bush. Demonstration of pinching dahlias is shown in the diagram.
Pinching procedure
Removing leaves and buds
In addition to the ability to pinch dahlias correctly, you need to learn how to cut leaves and buds. By removing excess greenery, air flows freely to the stem, and it is better ventilated. The plant becomes stronger and more resistant to various diseases.
Removing leaves looks like this:
- All the leaves from the bottom are cut off from the flower (at a height of 35 cm).
- The root collar at the base of the stem is disinfected.
Before shaping the dahlias to produce large flowers, you first need to remove all unnecessary leaves at the bottom of the stem. Only after that you can proceed to the inflorescences.
If the dahlia has picked up the buds, then if in doubt, pinch it or it's too late, you need to determine the size of the flowers. If they are still very small and fragile, then they can be removed. It is too late to pinch large inflorescences.
To obtain one or more large flowers on the stem, pluck out the extra buds as soon as they appear. This helps to reduce damage to the plant so that flowering is not affected.
After that, you can proceed directly to work with the buds. Need to:
- Determine the required number of colors.
- If you want to get one large flower, suitable for bouquets, exhibitions, you need to remove the lateral flowers in the leaf axils from above. The peduncle becomes longer and stronger. Flowering occurs faster.
- For several medium-sized flowers, you need to remove the bud in the center, and leave it on the side. The bush will look fuller. After a while, the removal of excess buds should be repeated so that it acquires the required number of inflorescences.
- Flowers that have faded must be removed from the bush. They spoil its appearance and delay flowering due to the long maturation of the seeds.
These actions will help to form a bush with the required number of flowers.
Removing excess inflorescences
Further care
Pinching, pinching, removing leaves and buds is stress for the plant. Carrying out procedures on already strengthened stems and inflorescences can negatively affect the condition of the shrub. After pruning dahlias for better flowering, plants need proper care to grow stronger. It is necessary to carry out top dressing, watering, loosening the soil.
Top dressing
An important component in the care is additional nutrition in the form of fertilizers. Feeding is especially needed during the growth of the bush, but before flowering.
Fertilizer can consist of manure mixed with water. Another option is a commercially available mineral complex, which is easy to obtain from flower shops. It should only be used on wet soil. The potassium and magnesium content of fertilizers should exceed the amount of nitrogen, as it is aimed at leaf growth, and not the flowering process.
Watering
Shrubs love frequent watering. In hot weather and during flowering, water should be done daily. It is important to ensure that no water stagnates in the pan. The soil must be moist. If there is not enough moisture for the plant, then the flowers will be small and dim. The bush will grow slowly.
Loosening the soil
A weakened plant does not grow well in too dense soil. It needs to be loosened periodically. The procedure helps oxygen to penetrate to the roots and remove weeds that interfere with the growth and flowering of the shrub. To do this, use a special garden hoe or a small rake. The soil should be loosened carefully so as not to damage the massive roots of the plant.
Care after the procedures
Dahlias often form lush but shapeless bushes. To form a neat bush and achieve the required number of flowers, the plant needs to be pinched, pinned, and some leaves and buds removed. To restore the bush after all the procedures carried out, competent care will help, which consists of watering, feeding and loosening the soil.
