18/06/2024
Finally the Dahlia patch is finished, all they need to do now is GROW! A little later than usual. But i always get there, in the end.
It's been 8 solid days of hard work flipping these beds. 💪
Starting off with taking up all the green membrane, that's been a w**d suppressant over winter.
Digging out any perennial w**ds.
Rotavating the beds, turning over the soil and breaking down the clay, also taking stones out.
Raking the beds over, taking out any lumps of clay.
Each bed holds roughly 100 dahlia plants.
Every tuber or small plant I put in needs a hole digging... Yes that's 350 holes!!! Me and my spade 💪
If I didn't dig a hole, the tubers grow into the clay and it's impossible to lift them at the end of the season.
Filled in with fresh compost and feed.
Then the dahlias are placed in colour order (ombre to be precise) labeled and tucked into the ground, and raked over.
Large metal stoops and knocked into the ground, and netting put over them to support them from the lower part of the plant, making it easier to cut the flowers later in summer.
Now to be on pest patrol for slugs, rabbits, pheasants and wasps... Not forgetting the w**ds!
But it's all worth it, my love for flowers outweighs all the hard work I put into my job.
Who's looking forward to my Dahlia bunches this year 💚
