BAG DAH. MY LOVE

Planting Dahlia ‘My Love’

• Plant overview: Dahlia ‘My Love’ is a classic decorative dahlia, producing large, pure white blooms with beautifully layered petals. Elegant and versatile, it is ideal for borders, large containers, and cutting gardens, and is especially popular for floral arrangements and weddings.

• When to plant:

  • Start tubers indoors from March to early April in pots to encourage early growth.

  • Plant outdoors from late April to May, once all risk of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed.

• Site selection:

  • Choose a sunny, sheltered position with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

  • Shelter from strong winds is important to protect tall stems and large blooms.

• Soil preparation:

  • Dahlias prefer fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil.

  • Improve planting areas with generous amounts of well-rotted compost or organic matter.

  • Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can cause tuber rot.

• Planting depth and spacing:

  • Plant tubers 10–15cm deep, ensuring the growing eye sits just below the soil surface.

  • Space plants 45–60cm apart to allow for strong, bushy growth and good air circulation.

• Container planting:

  • Suitable for large, sturdy containers with excellent drainage.

  • Use a rich, free-draining compost and place pots in a stable, sheltered position.

Ongoing Care and Maintenance

• Watering:

  • Water well after planting and keep soil consistently moist during the growing season.

  • Once plants are established and buds begin to form, regular deep watering is essential, particularly during dry spells.

• Feeding:

  • Begin feeding once plants are growing strongly.

  • Apply a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 10–14 days to support abundant flowering and strong stems.

• Staking and support:

  • Dahlia ‘My Love’ produces large, heavy blooms and requires firm staking.

  • Insert canes or supports at planting time to avoid disturbing the tubers later.

• Pinching and disbudding:

  • Pinch out the main growing tip when plants reach 30–40cm tall to encourage bushier plants and more flower stems.

  • For fewer but larger blooms, remove some side buds and allow selected flowers to develop fully.

• Mulching and weed control:

  • Apply a mulch around plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure.

  • Keep the surrounding area weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and water.

• Pests and diseases:

  • Watch for slugs, snails, aphids, and earwigs, which can damage young growth and flowers.

  • Good spacing and airflow help reduce the risk of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.

Flowering, Lifting, and Winter Storage

• Flowering period:

  • Dahlia ‘My Love’ flowers from mid-summer until the first autumn frosts.

  • Regular deadheading encourages continuous flowering throughout the season.

• Cut flower use:

  • Excellent for cutting, with strong stems and long-lasting blooms.

  • Harvest flowers early in the morning or evening when blooms are fully open.

• Deadheading:

  • Remove faded flowers promptly by cutting back to a healthy pair of leaves.

  • This directs energy into producing new buds rather than seed.

• After flowering:

  • Once frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to 10–15cm.

  • Leave tubers in the ground for a few days to allow skins to toughen before lifting.

• Lifting tubers:

  • Carefully lift tubers with a fork, avoiding damage to the necks.

  • Shake off excess soil and allow tubers to dry in a frost-free, well-ventilated place.

• Winter storage:

  • Store tubers in trays or boxes filled with dry compost, sand, or peat-free material.

  • Keep in a cool, dark, frost-free environment throughout winter.

• Overwintering in mild areas:

  • In very mild, free-draining soils, tubers may survive outdoors with a thick mulch, though lifting is the safest option.

• Replanting:

  • Replant stored tubers the following spring once frost risk has passed.

Dahlia ‘My Love’ is a timeless and reliable variety, rewarding good soil preparation, regular feeding, and careful winter storage with elegant, long-lasting white blooms throughout the summer season

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.