STEP BY STEP How to plant out dahlias
Plant dahlias out now that the soil has been warmed by spring sunshine and tubers will be protected from late frosts. Choose a site that gets plenty of sun and is protected from wind. Improve the soil with plenty of organic matter – they are hungry feeders. Get some supports ready, too. You can expect flowering to start by midsummer. Protect the soft new shoots from slugs and snails and add a general purpose granular fertiliser to give new growth a boost.
1 SPACE the plants out into position for planting. Plan the border so that each plant has enough room. The most vigorous types need 60cm, while smaller varieties can be given 30cm between plants.
2 DIG a hole the same depth but a little wider than the pot the dahlia is in. Spread your fingers out across the pot to protect the stems as you gently remove it from the pot.
3 PUT plants into the holes and back-fill with the soil you took out. Firm the plants in as you go and do a final gentle tread around the plants to lower the soil around them slightly.
4 WATER into the depressions you’ve made around the plant so that it soaks down to the root system. Continue watering in periods of dry weather and mulch around the plants with garden compost.