KUNZMAN, NEW ALBANY, INDIANA 
3 
Planting 
Now where should we have that Dahlia garden of yours? 
Not much choice as a rule. You usually have to take the space 
at hand and make the best of it. Dahlias will do well nearly 
everywhere they are planted, just so they are not too near a 
tree, and it is not wise to plant them on the north side of a 
house. They need plenty of sunshine. Most any neglected cor¬ 
ners around one’s home, if spaded up, will grow Dahlias. Have 
bulbs sent at planting time, so as to be sure of good robust 
stock when you are ready to plant. 
Put a small stake, piece of shingle or lath down into the ground at the 
end of the root about two inches from the eye end. Attach the name of 
the Dahlia to this small stake. This avoids large, unsightly stakes until 
the Dahlias need them. The small stake may be taken out and a large 
one put in its place when the plant starts to grow. 
Spade deep or plow the soil 8"; if you can spade it 12" so much 
the better. Then make the soil very fine and loose. Never work 
the soil when it is wet. So many of us want to plant our Dah¬ 
lias too early. Of course, there is a natural inclination to plant 
them and get them started. However, they should never be 
planted in this climate before May 10th, sometimes as late as up 
to June 15th. Plant the roots about 4" deep and about 18" 
apart. Be sure to lay the roots on their side. Never stand them 
up. 
Cultivation 
Like other plants, Dahlias respond better when they are cul¬ 
tivated. Loosen the soil and work it around the Dahlia several 
inches deep. After they grow to be about 18" high, just loosen 
the soil around the surface in order that moisture may get to the 
roots more readily. 
After the plants are up, out of the ground, it is a good plan 
to place about one-half inch of mulch about the base of the 
plant. This will hold moisture in the soil except in extremely 
dry weather. Lawn clippings, peat moss and even straw or hay 
will make a good mulch. If you feel that the soil is weak and 
lacking in quality, it is a good plan to rake in a little bone meal 
before the mulch is applied. 
Do the watering in the evening, but better still, every time 
you want to water your Dahlias, use a rake or trowel. Along 
in the latter part of July or August when the sun gets excep¬ 
tionally hot, the small feeding roots are near the surface of the 
soil. This is the time to apply mulch as it will protect these ten¬ 
der roots and preserve the moisture about them. 
Don’t let the ground get a hard crust. In watering them, 
don’t try and overdo it. Just replace the normal amount of mois¬ 
ture in the ground. 
