"How do I grow them?"  we are often asked by
our customers.

Following is a brief guide to the  essentials
of dahlia culture.  For a more complete treatment
we recommend  the  booklet "Dahlias, a Monthly
Guide", published by the Puget Sound Dahlia
Association.   It  provides  a monthh-by-month
culture reference.


EASY DAHLIA CULTIVATION

SELECT  a  sunny, well-drained  area  for 
your dahlias.  PREPARE soil before plant-
ing, adding 5-10-10 fertilizer. PLANT after 
last  frost, placing the root horizontally  in 
a hole  in which peat  moss  and/or  aged 
steer manure has been mixed and a  sturdy 
stake  driven  for support.   In  sandy  soil 
plant  6"  deep, in clay or heavy loam, 4". 
Cover  with 2"  of  soil,  adding more  as
the  plant  grows.   Without  fail, apply
slug  bait  amply.

BUSHINESS is obtained by  topping the plant by
pinching out the terminal leaf bud when there
are two sets of opposing leaves.

TYING  should  be done to  prevent  wind 
damage when the plant is 2' tall and again 
as needed.  SIZE of the bloom is regulated 
by  disbudding  lateral  buds,  leaving  the 
terminal bud to mature.

WEED  thoroughly and   carefully,  as  dahlias
are surface feeders  and cannot tolerate the soil
being disturbed around them too much.

SPRAY as  required every two  weeks,  alternating 
pesticides.  Remove spent flowers and  you will
be  rewarded with an  abundance  of blooms till frost.

FIRST FROST  indicates  digging   time. 
Take  care not to break the  necks.   Wash, 
divide,  dust with Captan or  other  fungi-
cide  and  allow to dry before  packing  in 
coarse vermiculite, sawdust or peat moss in 
plastic   bags  or  wooden  boxes.    (Avoid 
paper bags or cardboard boxes--they  cause 
excessive drying by wicking action.)  Store 
in  a  cool  area  that  never  freezes   and 
preferably   never  gets  above  50   degrees.  
Note:  part  of the stalk must be  cut  with 
each  root,  as  growth next  season  is  not 
possible without an eye or sprout  (appear-
ing  at the point where the root  joins  the 
stalk).

Please  call or email if  you  have  any   questions.  
Visitors  are  always welcome at  our  gardens.
Bring your camera and take home  a memory.

ENJOY your dahlias!