A friend of mine in college had a poster that said ‘Women should raise morehell and fewer dahlias.’ Having raised plenty of hell but no dahlias it actually inspired me to stick a few in the ground. Dahlias are the showstoppers of the autumn garden. They are a very diverse species with different flower types, foliage color, flower color combination, flower size, and plant height. Dahlias enhance autumn leaf color as well as extend the months of a cutting garden. In a vase we like to pair them with hydrangeas, bittersweet, maple or oak leaves.

The key to success with dahlias is choosing the right hybrid for our growing zone and siting them properly in the garden. Dahlias require welldrained soil in a sunny location. We recommend mixing in some Pro-Gro at planting time. Plant the bareroot tubers 6” deep on their sides, after the ground has warmed and the last frost has happened. (If frost is predicted, cover them for the evening.) Do not water until you notice sprouts and then water deeply. Light hand watering is not good. Fertilize with a formula designed for flowering plants such as ‘Peter’s Mix’. If the plants’ ultimate height is more than 2 feet you should consider staking it. Large blossoming plants (dinner plate dahlias) absolutely need staking or their beautiful flowers will get so heavy with the first rain that they will wind up face down in the mud.

We will be offering the following dahlias as bareroot tubers. Look for them in the garden center building (not the greenhouse). Remember tubers come in all shapes and sizes. The dahlias selected will bloom within 90 days or sooner from planting date. All are spectacular in the landscape and the vase.

For a descriptive list of our Dahlia offerings see our newsletter link on our website at
www.horsfordnursery.com

See our Dahlia selection!