‘Dahlia Happy Days’ is a popular choice for gardeners, offering vibrant color and a cheerful presence. They bring lively energy to beds, borders, and containers, making them a popular selection for adding charm. Their straightforward cultivation contributes to their widespread appeal for reliable, beautiful blooms.
Understanding ‘Dahlia Happy Days’
The ‘Dahlia Happy Days’ series has distinctive characteristics. These plants feature compact, mounding growth habits, typically reaching 10 to 14 inches tall and wide. Their serrated, often dark foliage, from deep green to almost black, provides a dramatic contrast to the blooms. The single-petaled flowers showcase a bright, varied color palette including scarlet red, yellow, pink, and pink-orange, often with a contrasting dark eye or gold anthers. These vibrant, daisy-like flowers bloom profusely from late spring until the first frost, enhancing gardens as borders, container plants, or cut flowers.
Planting and Growing ‘Dahlia Happy Days’
Successful cultivation begins with careful site selection and proper planting. ‘Dahlia Happy Days’ thrive in full sun, ideally at least six hours daily, promoting vigorous growth and abundant flowering. Well-drained, fertile soil, rich in humus, is preferred. Incorporating compost or aged manure enhances fertility and drainage.
Plant tubers about 6 inches deep for proper root development. Space plants 10 inches apart for adequate air circulation and to prevent overcrowding. After planting, avoid immediate watering unless the ground is very dry, as excessive moisture can lead to rot. Begin regular watering once green growth emerges, typically when the plant is 2-3 inches tall.
Fertilization supports healthy growth and prolific blooming. About 30 days after planting, and then every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing season, apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer (e.g., 2-4-4, 5-10-10, or 8-16-16), often labeled for blooms or vegetables. Container plants may need feeding every 2-3 weeks, as nutrients leach faster.
Ongoing Care for ‘Dahlia Happy Days’
Consistent watering is important once plants are established, especially during dry periods. Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid overwatering, as soggy conditions can lead to root issues. Deep watering (8-10 inches) is more effective than frequent shallow watering, encouraging a robust root system. In hot summer conditions, daily watering may be necessary, particularly for container plants, ensuring water drains from the bottom.
Deadheading spent blooms encourages continuous flowering and maintains the plant’s aesthetic appeal. Removing old flowers redirects energy from seed production to new blooms, extending the blooming season. Perform this every few days or weekly during peak bloom.
Some ‘Dahlia Happy Days’ varieties may benefit from staking or support, especially if laden with blooms or exposed to wind. Install stakes at planting to prevent tuber damage, securing stems with twine or clips as they grow. Taller varieties can use individual stakes, netting, or corralling methods to prevent flopping.
Dahlias can encounter common garden pests like aphids, slugs, snails, and spider mites. Aphids, small soft-bodied insects, cluster on new growth and are managed with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Slugs and snails, which chew on young leaves, are deterred with copper barriers or hand-picking. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing leaf stippling; regular hosing helps, and miticides can be used for severe infestations. Maintaining plant health through proper watering and feeding increases resistance.
Winterizing ‘Dahlia Happy Days’
In cold winter regions (USDA Zones 7 and below), ‘Dahlia Happy Days’ tubers need to be lifted to protect them from freezing. Lift tubers after the first hard frost causes foliage to die back, but before the ground freezes solid. Cut back stems, leaving a few inches above the soil line.
Carefully lift tubers with a pitchfork to avoid damage, gently loosening surrounding soil. Remove excess soil from the tubers. Washing off remaining dirt can prevent rot and mold during storage. After cleaning, thoroughly dry tubers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location for several days to a week; this curing prevents rot and desiccation.
Store tubers in a cool, dark, frost-free environment (40-50°F / 4-10°C) with 75-90% humidity. Store tubers in bins or boxes filled with peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings, ensuring they do not touch. Regularly check stored tubers throughout winter, removing any showing rot or shriveling, and adjust humidity to maintain viability.