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BORDER/CONTAINER
DAHLIAS Even though few border/container dahlias appear in the exhibition circuit, they are quickly becoming the dahlia draw with the general public, and their demand appears to be increasing exponentially. These dahlias are usually 12-20 inches high and require very little if any support. In the past ten years there has been some outstanding new fully double dwarf dahlias making it to market. The most popular are the Gallery series of border dahlias. Here is what Les Wright, Chairman Joint Royal Horticultural Society/National Dahlia Society Trials Committee, reported on several of these varieties in the NDS Annual. As reported last year, the Gallery varieties produced a mass of color. In 1999 they received 3 Awards of Garden Merit, and three more in 2000 endorses their great potential for garden or public area displays. Les Wright, Chairman joint Royal Horticultural Society/ National Dahlia Society Trials Committee. The Gallery type is a recent introduction to the Dwarf or Bedding types and my first impression was that they would be mainly suited for patio or similar use. Their outstanding performance by attracting three Awards of Garden Merit assessment is indicative of their ability to produce a highly floriferous display from low compact foliage to highlight their general use in the garden. Their bloom size, around 3 to 4 inches assists in accentuating their bright colors. ---Les Wright, Chairman joint Royal Horticultural Society/ National Dahlia Society Trials Committee. In addition to the Gallery series there are
many other low growing dahlias that are well suited for the border or the
container. Two of my favorites include TOUT A TOI
, a floriferous fully double waterlily formation with a warm bronze/yellow
combination and CLAUDETTE , a free blooming
4" purple. I used both of these in containers last year and was very
pleased with the results. I used the dahlia, especially the color, as the
focus and other plants as a complementary medium. For many, containers are
the only way some dahlia enthusiasts can have a garden. I am aware of a
dahlia grower who has his containers on the roof of his apartment house in A WORD ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THESE LOW GROWING DAHLIAS: Start tubers in flats or pots. Remember what you buy from the mass merchandiser will most likely be Dutch pot roots. Do not be dismayed by the tuber loss. Most of these broken/loose tubers are just those that grow out of the main tubers. If you have time and want to, you should be able to take several cuttings for additional plants. Otherwise just plant the pot root in a 6-8" pot with good potting soil. Planting in pots gives the dahlias a real good head start and assures you that they are viable before they are planted out. When planted in borders be sure the ground is enriched with compost and the soil is well worked. I add approximately a coffee can full of dehydrated cow manure or worm castings to the area before I work the soil. I usually make the first stop while the plants are still in pots. A stop where the terminal bud is pinched out encourages a fuller plant. I will then make a second stop after they have been in the ground a few weeks. This double stopping assures me of a really full plant with lots of blooms. For the rest of the year, I do not pay much attention to the plants. About the middle of July, though, a liquid fertilizer spray will be helpful. Good mulch will pay dividends for the effort. The mulch will keep the weeds down and retain moisture. This is beneficial not only to the dahlias but also the other plants. Do keep an eye out for the critters and be sure the dahlias get lots of water once they really start growing. Like most other flowers, removing spent blooms encourages new growth and more flowers. Disbudding is not necessary and some varieties do well without this step. Others will reward you well for the effort. Digging and storing after a killing frost is a matter of choice. If left in the ground there is the strong chance they will be frozen and lost. If this happens they will have to be replaced the next season. With the low cost of replacement this loss is not a major thing. If you do decide to dig just treat the clump as any other dahlia. This same size dahlia is very much at home in a container. The big advantage of growing in a container is the portability of the container. Container gardening opens a whole new world for the gardener. Many excellent books are available for growing container dahlias. In fact, there are more books on growing in containers than most other horticultural subject. if container gardening piques interest, stop in your garden center for help. Depending on the size of your container you can enjoy combining other plant material to enhance the whole effect. I really enjoy the test of using foliage plants and those plants with complimentary colored flowers. So why not try some dahlias in your favorite container? I am sure you will be thrilled with the results. Do include dahlias in your garden plans. I can assure you that you will not regret growing the dahlia, which blooms early and continues until frost. For further information or questions contact |