Dahlias are beloved summer flowers with an impressive bloom. To get the most out of your dahlias, it is wise to pinch them out. This simple gardening trick ensures fuller plants and more flowers. In this blog, we explain why pinching is worthwhile and how best to do it.
Pinching out dahlias means removing the top growing point of the plant, usually when the plant is about 30 cm (about 12 inches) tall and has developed a few sets of leaves. This stimulates the plant to branch out, resulting in more flower stems. Although this slightly delays the first bloom, it ultimately leads to a much richer flowering and a healthier plant.
Pinching out dahlias has several advantages:
You get more flowers in the long run. As the plant branches out, more flower buds develop, leading to more abundant blooms. And therefore, more colour to your garden during summer!
You also get stronger plants. Pinched out dahlias have thicker and stronger stems, making them more resistant to wind and rain.
You stimulate compact and full growth of your dahlias. Instead of forming a single long stem, the plant grows wider and bushier, creating a more beautiful appearance in the garden.
Last but not least, you create better cut flowers. Pinching creates more sturdy stems, ideal for cutting and arranging in bouquets and other decorations. Perfect for an event of big party!
Here we will give you a clear step-by-step plan for pinching out dahlias. It is very simple and can be done by hand or with sharp scissors. Follow these steps:
Wait for the right height. Once the plant is about 30 cm tall and has at least three to four sets of leaves, it is time to pinch.
Pinch or cut off the top. Remove the top growing point just above a pair of leaves. This can be done with your fingers or a sharp pair of scissors.
Care for the plant properly afterwards. After pinching out your dahlia, provide adequate water and possibly some fertilizer to support growth.
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And that’s it! Read along to view tips about creating a dahlia border.
Do not pinch too early. Wait until the plant has developed enough leaves to ensure it is strong enough to produce new shoots.
Repeat if necessary. For extra full plants, you can pinch again later, but keep in mind that this may further delay flowering.
Use the cut tops for propagation.The cut-off pieces can be used to grow new dahlias. Place them in moist soil, and they may develop roots.
Always use sharp pruners (or a pair of good scissors) to snip off the top of a dahlia, just above a set of leaves. Once the dahlia plants are about 25 – 30 cm tall, they are ready for pruning (pinching out).
Make sure the soil of the ground is not too wet. Fertilization is always a good idea, but not always necessary. The place where the dahlias are planted need quite enough sunlight. Use mulch to keep the ground and soil healthy for the dahlia tubers.Â
They do. That is because their roots can expand quite a lot under the ground. Dahlias can become quite big or tall, so they need a couple of cm between other dahlia flowers. The love the space to grow in the sun.
