Garden Help
Diagnose plant problems and treat garden pests


Get Gardening Help!

Home > Projects >

How to make the most of your dahlias


You will need: Pot, Straw, Cane, Secateurs

When it comes to stunning colour and flower size in the summer, Dahlias perform brilliantly. With a little care and attention, you can have blooms that will be the envy of your neighbours.

Best time to do it:

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Step 1

Step 1 of How to make the most of your dahlias

Earwigs love Dahlias and will feast on the flowers, leaving notches in the petals and mess everywhere. They feed at night and hide during the day, making them hard to remove. Create a trap by filling a pot with dry straw…

Step 2

Step 2 of How to make the most of your dahlias

…and placing it upside down on the top of a cane right next to the plant. The earwigs will hide in the straw and you can simply empty the pot each day to get rid of them.

Step 3

Step 3 of How to make the most of your dahlias

If you want really big blooms, remove competing flower buds from nearby on the same stem.

Step 4

Step 4 of How to make the most of your dahlias

Remove flowers as they fade. This stops the plant setting seed, which will reduce flowering, and reduces the risk of grey mould as the petals rot.

Related FAQs


Ask a gardening question:




Latest Gardening News



Latest Gardening & Horticultural Careers


Explore Gardens from Around the World


Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, United Kingdom

Butchart Gardens
British Columbia, Canada

Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Majorelle Garden
Marrakesh, Morocco



Watch a Video!

Why are my pansies and violas wilting?
Why are my pansies and violas wilting?
How do I protect my grapes from insects?
How do I protect my grapes from insects?
Effective Watering
Effective Watering
How can I get rid of a red ant nest in my lawn?
How can I get rid of a red ant nest in my lawn?
How to Grow Orchids
How to Grow Orchids
Weed Control Using Mulch
Weed Control Using Mulch