Add
Some Garden Pizzazz to Your Landscape with Easy-Care Dahlias
By Melinda Myers
Send a link to a friend
[March 08, 2017]
Plan
now for a memorable grand finale in this year’s garden. Dahlias are
spring-planted bulbs with big, colorful flowers that bloom
continuously from midsummer to the first fall frost. |
Early in the season, the foliage of these easy-care plants
provides a lush green backdrop for nearby annuals and perennials.
Then, as many other plants are waning from the summer heat, dahlias
burst into bloom, filling the garden with their impressive flowers
for months to come.
There are many types of dahlias and many ways to use them. Shorter
border dahlias like the Gallery or Melody series are perfect for
planting along walkways, in the front of a flower border, or in pots
next to the patio. The compact plants support full size flowers for
a dazzling display.
Plant taller varieties in the middle of the flower border, and boost
their ornamental appeal by including varieties like Fascination and
HS Flame with burgundy foliage. The darker leaves combine nicely
with the greens of their neighbors and are the perfect backdrop for
the rose-pink and bright red blossoms.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/04/images/ads/current/graue_sda_2016.png) Dahlias dazzle with their many unique flower shapes and sizes. The
brilliant color and rolled petals of the cactus dahlia Karma Red
Corona are sure to make you stop and take a second look. Or consider
the powder puff blooms of Myrtles Folly, with petals that capture
the colors of a sunrise. Dinnerplate dahlias, like deep purple
Thomas Edison, grow 4 feet tall and have enormous, 8” flowers.
Suppliers like Longfield Gardens (longfield-gardens.com) offer
dozens of dahlia varieties as well as attractive mixes based on
color themes and flower styles. A combination like the Soft Orange
mix, works great in the garden and combines nicely in an
arrangement. [to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Mar/04/images/ads/current/lincolncollege_lda_EDUCATION_2017.png)
Don’t be afraid to cut your dahlias. Picking encourages more blooms
for you to enjoy. With as few as three to six plants you’ll have
plenty of flowers to enjoy yourself and share with friends. Since
dahlias thrive in the same great soil as vegetables, consider adding
a few plants to your food garden as well. You’ll be able to cut
fresh flowers for the dinner table when harvesting the vegetables
for your next meal.
In northern areas where dahlias are not winter hardy, the tubers can
be dug and stored indoors for the winter. Or make it easy and just
treat your dahlias like other annuals. With so many wonderful
varieties to choose from, it’s fun to try different ones each year.
Review your garden plans to identify places that could benefit from
a burst of late season color. Order your dahlias early for the best
selection, plant them in the spring and enjoy a spectacular show.
[Melinda Myers with photo by
Longfield-Gardens.com]
Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Small
Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything:
Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated
Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and
contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned
by Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this article. Myers’
website is www.melindamyers.com |