Description of the dahlia variety Cheerful guys, growing technology and care

Many gardeners are engaged in growing dahlias Merry Guys, as this variety is unpretentious in care. The plant received its name due to its brightly colored buds, which with their appearance create a festive and joyful atmosphere around.

Appearance and characteristics of dahlia Merry guys

These annual flowers are dwarf varieties of dahlias that grow up to 25 centimeters. Experts advise growing them in the southern regions, as they do not tolerate low temperatures well.

The main distinguishing feature of the variety is its strong stems and powerful root system, which is resistant to rotting. The leaves of the Merry Guys are painted bright green. However, dahlias with dark red flowers may have burgundy leaves. The color of the petals also varies, and therefore you should not be surprised that one part of the flowers is red or lilac, and the second is burgundy or pink.

If you plant dahlias correctly, you can get friendly shoots that will bloom at the same time in the future.

Flower growers advise regularly trimming bushes so that they do not grow to 35-40 centimeters. This will speed up the appearance of inflorescences and increase the duration of flowering.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Dahlias, like other flowers, have a number of advantages and disadvantages that you should familiarize yourself with before planting them.

The advantages of Merry Guys include:

• Variety of flowers. It is no secret that the inflorescences of the variety can have petals of different colors. This allows you to choose the color of dahlias that will fit perfectly into the flowerbed.
• Long flowering. It is the long flowering that is the main factor why people plant them on their plots. If you regularly care for the bushes, they will bloom from mid-summer until the first night frosts.
• Compactness. The plant does not grow even with abundant watering and fertilization. On average, bushes grow to 20-60 centimeters in height.
• Easy to grow. Dahlias are undemanding to care; they will bloom even in dry weather and lack of nutrients.
• Drought resistance. Many flowers need to be watered regularly to ensure they bloom in the future, but dahlia bushes can withstand drought and hot weather without problems.
• Disease resistance. The plant has a strong root system and good immunity, which protect it from most viral and fungal diseases.

Merry guys have much fewer disadvantages than advantages. These include the following:

• the need to periodically dig up the plant, since it is an annual;
• slow growth of bushes planted in shaded areas;
• poor resistance to low temperatures.

Specifics of cultivation

Before planting the Merry Children, you need to understand the specifics of their cultivation.

Soil requirements

In order for dahlias to grow normally, they are planted only in fertile soil that contains a lot of humus. The plant is contraindicated for planting in heavy and sandy soils, as the bushes will develop slowly in them.

To improve the composition of the soil, you will have to add humus with compost and peat. This will saturate the soil with nutrients that promote flower growth. Lime is added to soil with a high acidity level in the amount of one and a half kilograms per square meter.

Choosing a good place to place plants

The choice of place for planting must be approached responsibly, since the growth of flowers depends on it. The plant should be grown in a well-lit area with reliable protection from gusts of wind. It is also recommended to select a place where nothing has been grown for 2-3 years.

Planting seeds in open ground

Before planting, it is necessary to determine the optimal timing of planting the seed.Since the variety does not cope well with frost, the seeds are planted at the end of April or in May, when the temperature is above zero.

A few days before planting, the area is cleared of weeds and leveled. Then the rows are marked and holes are made at a distance of 20-25 centimeters. 2-3 seeds are planted in each hole.

Growing seedlings and planting them

Some gardeners first grow seedlings, which are then transplanted into open ground. Seedlings are grown in peat pots at a temperature of 15-20 degrees. When the seedlings grow to 7-10 centimeters, they are planted in a flower bed. The seedlings are transplanted very carefully so as not to accidentally damage its young roots.

General rules of care

These flowers need attention and therefore you need to figure out how to care for them.

Watering

It's no secret that dahlias don't need to be watered often, as they are drought-resistant. However, in the first few days after planting, the seedlings must be watered abundantly. If the outside temperature is above 25 degrees, then in the first week the plant is watered every day. After this, moisten the soil 2-3 times a week.

Fertilizers

Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil no more than twice a month. And for the first time dahlias are fed with organic matter in the form ammonium nitrate, chicken manure and a solution made from mullein. Next time, the soil is fertilized with superphosphate and other mineral fertilizers.

Features of wintering tubers

Experts recommend digging up the tubers in winter and moving them to a warm room for wintering. However, some gardeners decide to leave them in the ground. In this case, the flowerbed will have to be insulated with pine branches and fallen leaves.

Diseases and pests

Sometimes flowers are attacked by pests and suffer from fusarium and brown rot. To protect the planted seedlings, you will have to regularly spray them with fungicides and Bordeaux mixture. It is better to carry out processing with rubber gloves so as not to damage the skin.

Collection and storage of seeds

Many people are interested in how to preserve tubers so that they do not spoil in winter. Tubers are dug up in the fall, after the first frosts appear at night. All collected tubers are cleaned of dirt, dried and shortened to 5-8 centimeters. After cutting, the cut areas are wrapped in foil to prevent the process of rotting from starting.

To store dug tubers, choose warm rooms with a high-quality ventilation system. Cellars and basements are often used as storage. Before storage, all tubers are placed in a wooden box, the bottom of which is covered with peat and sawdust.

If dahlias are stored in a room with a high level of humidity, the tubers will have to be pre-treated with a clay mixture. To prepare it, 500 grams of clay are mixed with water until a thick consistency is obtained. Then the tubers are soaked in the mixture for 10-15 minutes. As a result, a clay layer is formed on their surface, which will protect the plant from moisture and prevent rotting.

You can also wrap dahlias in durable plastic bags, which also protect well from moisture and low temperatures. The main advantage of this storage method is that it allows you to preserve even the smallest and weakest tubers.

The role of annuals in landscape design

Dahlias are quite beautiful flowers and that is why they are used in landscape design. To decorate the area, they are planted with other compact flowers.You can use them to create beautiful garden beds, flower beds and flower borders. Experienced gardeners recommend planting them next to asters, petunias and marigolds.

Conclusion

Jolly fellows are one of the most common varieties of dahlias. Before planting it, you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the plant, as well as understand the basic recommendations for planting and growing flowers.