dahlias in bed alone?

[dirtyboots]

I want to make room for some dahlias that a friend has given me.

The borders that we have at present are over crowded and a mess.

I was wondering if a bed dedicated to dahlias was a good idea, has anyone else done it?
It will mean digging up a bit more of the field, still plenty to go at ;D

[madonplants]

Nov 5, 2008 8:39:15 GMT dirtyboots said:

I want to make room for some dahlias that a friend has given me.

The borders that we have at present are over crowded and a mess.

I was wondering if a bed dedicated to dahlias was a good idea, has anyone else done it?
It will mean digging up a bit more of the field, still plenty to go at ;D

I've never done it, always had other plants (shrubs, even grasses) around to give a bit of structure, especially for the winter months, when the border would look a bit empty. How many dahlias are we talking about, DB? Hundreds, knowing you!! What size would the border be, tennis court size!!? ;D

[Tig]

Drunken Gardener had quite a few dahlias in his borders if I remember correctly DB, but they were planted in amongst other things. He had a very colourful circular bed with just dahlias in

Like madonplants says it might be a bit bare in the winter - so maybe a good idea to interplant with grasses or some dwarf / slow growing evergreens?

x Tig

[Ladygardener]

Seems to me that you have loads going on in your beds already DB so, since you have the room to make a dedicated bed I'd go for it. :)One of the houses not too far from me has nothing only dahalia in the borders and they look amazing when all in bloom every year. They're tall and lovely, I've not noticed anything else in their borders and look forward every year to their display.

[Deleted]

Hey DB, the only thing I'd ask is do you know what type of dahlias they are? The cactus and pom pom varieties will require support as they can get quite tall.

And one thing I did learn doing my dahlia border is not to plant them too close if you're planning on leaving the tubers in the ground during the winter. The first year I did this, I thought I'd lost them as they didn't come up right away so I planted some new ones I'd grown from seed only to find that the tubers soon burst into life meaning the border really got crowded. If you do leave them in and they don't get hit by frost or waterlogging, then they tend to come back really strong.

To leave them in the ground, just make sure you mulch the border once you've cut them back after the first frosts. About an inch of bark or compost should see them through.

Anyway, best wishes with it and make sure you take lots of pics for us to see.

DG

[Deleted]

Found the pic that Tig referred to;



As you can see, quite crowded...

[dirtyboots]

Wow DG thats the sort of effect I fancy !

The tubers are a mixture so it will be quite a surprise the first summer ;D
I know my friend used to stake them,they are all in a box so I think it will be pot luck.

I intend to leave them in the ground over winter {plenty of donkey poo going spare} so they will be well covered.

Not sure of the shape yet, quite fancy a cresent or a circle.

The OG says not to bother but I feel as though I must.
Now looking for someone to help with the digging!

[andy]

We have a long Dahlia walk in between the tennis courts at work. We have many named varieties that are saved and propagated each year but we also use companion planting with Felicia....something that we've done for years but is never any good.

So, as Dahlias are fairly late flowering...August until frosts, i suggested we get rid of the companion plants and use Dahlias grown from seed such as coltness hybrids instead.

We'll see 1) if my boss goes for it and 2) if it makes any difference.

Also...don't forget that apart from a magnificent show of colour, Dahlias are also good cut flowers !!!

[dirtyboots]

Your right about being good cut flowers andy

Our friends have gone back to England and brought is a bucketful of flowers that they had cut down before they left, they were stunning ;D

[Auricula]

Go for it DB - sound a stunning idea

[dirtyboots]

Had loads of friends and family over the Christmas and New Year break,young men with strong backs. ;D
Not got any digging done though because of the weather!!!

The new flower bed will just have to wait a while longer.

[Chuckles]

Hi DB, sounds like a missed opportunity of some help there ......."young men with strong backs" ;D