Dahlias are beloved for their vibrant colorful blooms that brighten gardens from mid-summer through the first frost. But without proper cutting back, your dahlia plants can grow lanky and produce fewer flowers. Learning correct dahlia pruning techniques keeps plants full bushy, and continually blanketing your garden in a floral spectacle.
Why Cutting Back Dahlias is Key
Strategic cutting redirects the plant’s energy into more robust growth and increased flowering Here’s how it helps
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Encourages bushy growth from the base instead of tall, leggy stems.
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Triggers more lateral branching which equals more flowers,
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Removes spent blooms so new buds continually form.
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Keeps the plant compact enough to support prolific blooms.
When to Trim Dahlias
Time your cuts carefully to avoid accidentally removing next season’s flower buds:
Spring
- When new shoots are 16-18 inches tall, pinch out the center growing tip. This spurs bushy branching below.
Summer
- Deadhead spent blooms back to a leaf node to prolong flowering.
Fall
- Leave most of the plant intact until frost kills it back naturally.
Helpful Tools to Have
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Sharp bypass pruners sterilized before each use.
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Gardening gloves to protect hands from prickly stems.
How to Cut Back Dahlias Step-By-Step
Follow these tips for maximizing flowers through proper cutting back:
Spring Pinching
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Wait until shoots are 16-18 inches tall with 4+ leaf nodes.
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Locate the main central stem and pinch off the tip just above the top leaf node.
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Pinching off this tiny tip triggers exponential growth below it.
Summer Deadheading
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Check plants daily for spent blooms.
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Use pruners to snip off each dead bloom just above a leaf node.
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Make cuts at an angle to avoid trapping moisture.
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Deadhead frequently to prolong blooming into fall.
Fall Cleanup
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Leave most of the plant intact through the first light frost.
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Once fully killed by hard frost, cut the entire plant back to about 6 inches above the ground.
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The remaining stem stubble anchors the tubers over winter.
Remove Excess Stems
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Thin congested areas and crisscrossing stems regularly.
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Leave just 3-5 robust, evenly spaced stems per plant.
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Eliminating excess growth keeps plants fuller and blooming freely.
Post-Cutting Care
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Water well after major cuts to aid recovery.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer to fuel growth of new stems.
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Stake tall varieties to support them as they regrow after cutting back.
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Monitor for pests or diseases drawn to fresh wounds.
Learning proper dahlia cutting techniques – when to pinch, deadhead, or cut back entirely – results in bushier, healthier plants blanketed in colorful blooms. Just be sure to time cuts carefully around each phase of growth. With a little practice, you’ll easily master the art of cutting back dahlias for maximum blossoms.
6 tips for pruning dahlias for more beautiful and lush flowers
The dahlia is a beautiful summer bloomer that provides a stunning display of colour in the garden. To ensure that it can unfold its full flowering glory, it is important to prune it regularly. Pruning dahlias offers many benefits to the plant such as promoting healthy growth until the first frost and extra lush growth. In this blog post we will give you 6 tips for abundant dahlia flowering.
Prune dahlias in the first stage of growth
Prune dahlias in the first growth phase, as soon as two to three pairs of leaves have formed. Cut off the tips. This stimulates the branching of the plant and leads to stronger growth, more stems and more flowers. By removing the flower buds, the energy of the dahlia is shifted to the side shoots.
Cutting back Dahlias early for BIGGER blooms
FAQ
When should dahlias be cut back?
Prune dahlias in the first growth phase, as soon as two to three pairs of leaves have formed. Cut off the tips.Oct 5, 2023
Do I need to prune my dahlias?
The dahlia is a popular garden plant prized for its beautiful blooms. If you prune your dahlias correctly, you can enjoy these showy flowers from the middle of summer through the first frost of the year. In addition, you may need to prune your dahlias to remove pests or diseases. Luckily, caring for your dahlias is easy when you know how!
Should you cut back Dahlia stems?
Cutting back dahlia stems at the right times redirects the plant’s energy into more robust growth and flowering. Here’s how it helps: Encourages bushy growth from the base instead of tall, leggy stems. Triggers more lateral branching which equals more flowers. Keeps the plant compact enough to support prolific blooms.
How do you cut a dahlia flower?
Cut back the stem to the point it meets another main stem. You can do this throughout the fall season. As dahlias continue growing, the stems become tough. Thus it’s best to use a sharp tool to cut the flower. Examples of sharp-cutting tools include pruning shears like the one shown below or sharp scissors. Check out this pruning shears on Amazon.
How do you remove a faded Dahlia flower?
Remove the faded flowers, also known as deadheading, promoting the growth of more blooms. Cut back the stem to the point it meets another main stem. You can do this throughout the fall season. As dahlias continue growing, the stems become tough. Thus it’s best to use a sharp tool to cut the flower.
How do you prune a dahlia tree?
Depending on the goal, you can prune Dahlias in different ways. Let’s go through them! Trim Early for More Flowers: When your dahlias hit about 16 inches tall, pinch off the tip above the fourth set of leaves. This simple move encourages more branches and, in turn, more blooms. Keep at it all season for a floral extravaganza!
Do dahlias bloom more if you cut them?
Yes, dahlias bloom more if you cut them! Snip off open or nearly open flowers just above a set of leaf nodes and side buds to encourage new shoots and continuous blooming. Looking to enhance your dahlia blooms? Learn how to prune dahlias effectively with our expert tips and tricks for healthier, more vibrant flowers!