Dahlias need well drained soil and will not do well in wet or boggy conditions. Dahlias do not like wet feet, so to speak.

Dahlias like the soil to be well prepared with additions of organic matter such as peat moss, compost, or manure. Dahlias like the soil slightly acid and require only light applications of a general garden fertilizer such as 10-10-10 , or applications of compost or manure.

Dahlias like well drained soil to which organic matter has been added. We prefer to use organic matter such as manures, grass clippings, kelp, eelgrass and seaweed. Organic matter should be decomposed or composted. All organic additives should always be added in the fall and tilled in.

Dahlias require a potential hydrogen level (ph, level as most of us know it) of 6.5 to 7.0. Here in the east, it is common for a lot of our soil to have a low ph. level (commonly referred to as being acidic).

An application of lime in the fall (and it is very important to make sure that is tilled in at this time) will raise the ph. level. An application of lime requires approximately 6 months to alter a ph. level, so remember to apply lime in the fall and not in the spring. It is also important to till lime in as opposed to just spreading it on the soil.