Add a Splash of Colour to Your Garden
Increase Colour In Your Garden This Summer with Dahlias
If you’re looking to bring bold, vibrant colour to your garden this summer, dahlias are a perfect choice. With their stunning blooms in every shade imaginable—from soft pastels to rich jewel tones—dahlias add drama, texture, and long-lasting interest to borders, pots, and cut flower displays. The good news is, there’s still time to get started—and you’ve got a couple of great options.
Starting Dahlias from Seed – Get Sowing Now
If you fancy growing dahlias from seed, now’s the time to sow. Dahlias grown from seed are usually smaller-flowered types but make up for it in sheer variety and quantity of blooms. They’re excellent for filling gaps in the border and are surprisingly easy to raise if you have a warm, bright windowsill or propagator.
Sow seeds in trays of moist compost and cover lightly. Keep them warm (around 18–21°C) and you’ll see seedlings in about 7–10 days. Once they have a couple of sets of true leaves, prick them out into individual pots to grow on. By the time late May rolls around, they’ll be sturdy enough to plant out after the risk of frost has passed.
Growing from Dahlia Tubers – Pots Now, Plant Out Later
For larger blooms and established favourites, dahlia tubers are your go-to. You can start tubers off in pots now—simply plant each tuber just below the surface in a pot filled with multipurpose compost, and keep them in a bright, frost-free place. Water lightly until growth appears, then water more regularly as the shoots develop.
These potted dahlias will be ready to plant out in late May or early June, once the soil has warmed up and frost is no longer a threat.
Softwood Cuttings – More Plants, More Colour
Here’s a little trick for the thrifty gardener: once your tubers sprout stems 7–10cm tall, you can take softwood cuttings. Simply snip off a strong shoot just above the base, trim it under a leaf joint, and remove the lower leaves. Pop the cutting into compost, keep it humid and warm, and within a couple of weeks you’ll have a brand-new plant.
Taking cuttings does delay flowering slightly, as the energy of the tuber is split and the new plants take time to establish—but the payoff is worth it. You’ll get more plants, more flowers, and an even bigger show later in the summer and into early autumn.
Planting Tips
- Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
- Enrich the soil with compost before planting.
- Support taller varieties early with canes or plant supports.
- Keep well-watered during dry spells, and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
In Summary:
- Sow dahlia seeds now for a budget-friendly splash of colour.
- Start tubers in pots for planting out at the end of May.
- Take softwood cuttings for even more blooms and plants.
If you’re new to gardening or looking to improve your skills, including growing dahlias from seed or tubers, you can get expert help and guidance through the GardenAdvice MyGardenTeam service. It’s a one-to-one mentoring program that helps you learn how to care for and develop your garden with ongoing support throughout the year.
With just a little effort now, your garden can be bursting with colour right through until the first frosts. Happy growing!
