How to shape dahlias for the right bush

Content:

Why pinch a plant
Formation methods
Dahlia grazing during growth

When planting bushes of tall dahlias on the site, you want to get lush buds of bright colors. But not all gardeners know how to form dahlias for large flowers. Perennial crops, to which this plant belongs, need processing of shoots. If carried out regularly, dahlias will delight with long flowering and luxurious flowers.

Why pinch a plant

Each shoot of a plant requires nutrition and energy, especially for spreading bushes. If the side shoots are not removed from dahlias, the flowers will be frail and dull. This also affects the number of flowers - a well-processed bush is strewn with buds. Knowing how to prune dahlias for better flowering will improve the plant's appearance and its resistance to disease and pests.

Dahlias

Dahlias grazing pursues another goal - the formation of a bush, it becomes slimmer and taller. An overgrown unkempt bush may not survive the cold winter: there will be few nutrients left in the roots. Weak tubers often rot; instead of a lush flowering, you will get a frail plant that needs treatment.

Correct processing will allow you to get a hat of large flowers.

Important! Knowing how to pinch dahlias is only useful when growing tall bushes - about 1.3-2 m in height.

Formation methods

Dahlias Funny guys - planting and care

The formation of dahlias is not the only step in caring for this perennial plant. Watering, fertilizing, mulching and processing play an equally important role in obtaining the final result. However, without formation, tall bushes will not be lush, so the skill must be mastered. There are several ways to do this - a good grower combines them.

Topping

Before pinching perennial dahlias, you need to familiarize yourself with the weather forecast. The procedure is performed only in dry weather. Otherwise, the ends will become damp and rot may begin.

The main problem for the formation of dahlias is the rapid growth of lateral shoots. It is enough to leave 2 pieces, the rest will only harm. Pinching a dahlia is the process of removing the growths from the axils between the leaves. Anything that grows below the internode in front of the bud is plucked out.

Pinching should be done carefully, being careful not to damage the stem.

How to pinch dahlias according to the rules:

The cutting procedure is carried out in dry weather, immediately after the morning dew has dried.
Faded buds are removed from the plant.
The leaves on the bottom of the bush cover the roots, so they need to be plucked out.
All leaves growing after the 4th pair are removed from the top of each shoot.
Low-growing bushes do not pinch.

Pinching perennials improves their decorative effect, and also saves energy for the development of buds and a strong stem. If the plant is sick, the formation of dahlias is carried out only after it has been cured.

Advice. Many gardeners are concerned about the question, when the dahlia picked up the buds, do you need to pinch or is it too late? The buds must and can be removed - usually this falls on the share of the middle, the smallest in the inflorescence.

Stepping

This is the name of the process of removing shoots in pairs of leaves - we are talking about extra shoots. They slow down the flowering of the bush, and the root system weakens, which is dangerous for wintering. This method of formation is carried out several times a month. Shoots grow quickly, so it is advisable to remove them immediately after emergence. The upper shoots should be left, and the lower ones should be pinned.

Do not be afraid that the bush will lose its foliage and look scanty.On the contrary, large buds and a top will make it brighter and more visually magnificent.

With proper pinching, the buds rise above the foliage

If the bush is not pinned, its foliage will become very voluminous, and the buds will be tiny. The formation of a dahlia bush is carried out step by step until the buds appear - this is an important difference from pinching. Stepson should break off at the stem itself, otherwise they themselves will break off under their own weight. This is fraught with the appearance of rotting at the site of the break.

Removing buds

Barely planted bush needs to be checked for extra buds and removed. If at the time of purchase the plants have blossomed, cut off all the buds, leaving the largest ones. They are easy to find and recognize - in dahlias, they are located along the edges of the inflorescences. For perennials, this process is more important than for annuals.

The scheme for pinching dahlias is quite simple - it is carried out in early July before flowering. Bushes can have different heights, you do not need to pay attention to this. After the procedure, the culture must be fed with mineral fertilizers and vitamins.

Dahlia grazing during growth

What dahlias look like - varieties and types of plants

If flowers are grown for sale, dahlias are pinched in order to obtain large buds. The plant begins to form in the early stages of development. It has only one stem on which a mass of shoots grows. At a height of 20-25 cm from the soil, they need to be pinned.

Important! You need to break off the stepsons as close as possible to the place of growth.

Lush foliage forms on the bush. For the prevention of fungal infections, it must be thinned out. Each stem has 3 ovaries, the grower should leave one, the strongest. The culture grows strongly upward, so it needs to be tied up. A good result will be a tall shrub with 1-2 stems and lush buds up to 25 cm in diameter.

Grassing the buds will allow you to create several large healthy flowers.

There is a risk of infection when removing shoots. After removing the foliage from the bottom of the bush, the root collar must be treated with a disinfectant.

During the flowering period, the plant must be fed. In early July, after pinching, the flower is also fertilized with mineral compounds.

Important! If the culture is grown for the purpose of obtaining seeds, and not for beauty, the bush may not be formed.

Tips from experienced florists:

It is better to do pickling at 9-10 am after the dew dries.
On the day of processing the bush with scissors, you do not need to water the plant.
Garden tools must be washed and wiped with a disinfectant before work.
Before any procedure to remove shoots, you need to inspect the plant. If pests or signs of disease are found, the bush must first be cured.
After the formation is complete, it is advisable to spray the plant with fungicidal agents. This will prevent the growth of fungus and pests.

In the process of growth, the plant must be tied up

The formation of dahlias is an integral part of the care of tall bushes. The instructions on how to pinch dahlias, described in detail above, will help you get a beautiful slender bush covered with buds. In the process of removing excess shoots, one should not forget about the safety of the plant.