If we could see the miracle of every single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
Buddha
One thing is certain, too many dahlias are never enough. Last fall, I placed an order for three new (to me) dahlias to add to our perennial garden. Dahlias have to be planted after the ground warms a bit as they are tender perennials – usually in April for zone 7. Our shipment should arrive in early April. I’m looking forward to having more flowers in the garden, and hopefully more to cut for arrangements. Flowers in every room, please! Let’s take a look at what I ordered.
Daddy’s Girl – 4 1/2″ pink and white blooms, 4′ tall.
Bride to Be – 4″ classic water lily blooms, about 3 1/2′ tall.
Southern Belle – 5″ blooms of dusty coral pink, 4 1/2′ tall.
When it comes to overwintering dahlias, you have to be careful. As I mentioned before they are tender and the tubers could freeze or rot under certain conditions. In zone 7 they can be left in the ground, but it can be risky. I chose to overwinter them this way by taking a few extra steps. Cut plants back after the first killing frost, usually in November. Cover with a sheet of plastic. Add a protective layer over the plastic for insulation. I used an entire bag of soil conditioner that I will spread in the garden once the ground warms. For additional tips on dahlias, I find this site to be very helpful. They also have a YouTube channel if you prefer videos. Happy planting!
