BAG DAHLIA SUNLADY

Planting Dahlia ‘Sunlady’

• Plant overview: Dahlia ‘Sunlady’ is a bright, cheerful dahlia variety producing warm golden-yellow blooms that bring strong summer colour to borders, containers, and cut flower gardens. It is a tender perennial grown from tubers and valued for its reliable flowering and vibrant presence.

• 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 danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

• Site selection:

  • Choose a sunny, sheltered position, ideally receiving 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

  • Shelter from strong winds is important to protect stems and flowers.

• Soil preparation:

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

  • Improve planting areas with plenty of well-rotted compost or organic matter before planting.

  • Avoid heavy or waterlogged soils, as tubers can rot in poor drainage.

• Planting depth and spacing:

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

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

• Container planting:

  • Suitable for large, heavy containers with good drainage.

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

Ongoing Care and Maintenance

• Watering:

  • Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.

  • Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season, especially once buds begin to form.

  • During hot or dry weather, deep watering is essential.

• Feeding:

  • Begin feeding once plants are growing strongly.

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

• Staking and support:

  • Dahlia ‘Sunlady’ produces substantial blooms and benefits from staking.

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

• Pinching and disbudding:

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

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

• Mulching and weed control:

  • Mulch around plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure.

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

• Pests and diseases:

  • Watch for slugs, snails, aphids, and earwigs, which may damage young shoots and flowers.

  • Ensure good spacing and airflow to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

Flowering, Lifting, and Winter Storage

• Flowering period:

  • Dahlia ‘Sunlady’ flowers from mid-summer until the first autumn frosts, providing months of bright colour.

  • Regular deadheading encourages continuous blooming.

• Cut flower use:

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

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

• Deadheading:

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

  • This redirects 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, taking care not to damage 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 generally safer.

• Replanting:

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

Dahlia ‘Sunlady’ is a reliable and uplifting variety that rewards good soil preparation, regular feeding, and careful winter storage with glowing yellow blooms that light up the summer garden

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.
 

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