3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Poochella, Try your local hardware store, that's where I found it. It really is surveyor's tape but it comes clear and in dark green.

Oh, by the way, Your're a gardener, no matter what your hands will always be a calloused mess unfit for any beauty contest, LOL

Thanks Poochella. I'd be curious to hear what others say. Also, about the clear tape: Willow is right. I think the hardware store is a good place to try. I get mine at a local nursery that is kind of a "high end" nursery place. I also tried a google search on white plant ribbon or white plant tape and surveyor's ribbon, but I couldn't find anything. I did find a lot of hits on the velcro plant ties, which you can adjust, but I really like the clear ribbon... Hope you can find it!

I've attached an additional copper tag to the main stock of each plant. Hubby knows to wait 6 to 8 days after frost kills the plant, then to dig carefully. I doubt as dry as it has been if much soil will cling to the tubers when he digs. Lay out to dry several hours; then just put the contents of each clump into a plastic grocery bag. Hopefully I will be home within 10 days of his needing to dig. Any other advice I could leave with him?? Oh, yes, put all in a cooler in the cold storage room.

Poochella, take some pictures of what you make if you go through with it. I'm just a copy-cat!Not many original ideas here. Jean

Oh that fellow is just too cool! Is it really that blue? And poison?

Yes he really is that blue. There were some crazy black and yellow ones too. The poison on their skins protects them from predators.

Sharon

Here, the slugs are the bane of the young dahlia, although I have had some aerial artists climb to several feet up to feast on leaves, if I plant the dahlia too close to other things the slugs can hide under. If you bait early and regularly your dahlias should weather slug onslaughts fairly well.

Earwigs- well here they hide in petals or bud masses- dark and creepy seekers they are! I went after one with a scissors today- deep inside a tubular ball petal. There are no words printable here to describe how I loathe those little pincered creeps. And I guess this one feels the same way about me...

Nice colors Flowerfarmer!

Redd: Marlene Joy is B size- these blooms averaged about 6- maybe 7 inches across fully opened. Not huge.

Aunt Net- you got not such a good deal after all. Sorry. Too late in the season to plant I guess, and too wet with all that rain, until some roots develop to pull up some of that water. I'd try to avoid the 'shriveled' tubers- they are real heartbreakers when they rot or don't grow.

I put some pictures of the newest dahlia wedding arrangements in the Weddings with Dahlias album (changed the name of the albun now that it has more than just Nat's wedding in it!. As you can see. some take a bit more time than others but there's not much talent in making a dahlia topiary- just tape 'em together & stuff 'em in oasis in a pot! They were really cute & you can do a few groupings for a bigger display in a church- I've put 3 to 5 of them on alters before & 7 grouped around on the floor in front-- It's that "Florist's Uneven Number" thing that makes things look like you know what you're doing >:) In the other wedding the dahlias were used as pave & then you just bring some other stuff up to as high as you want it- you could use any tall flower & some medium ones & pretty soon they're looking professional as all get out. My theory is-- if anyone doesn't like them- they can volunteer to do the flowers next week! The new picts. start on p. 6 of the album.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wynne's Dahlia Albums

GROW YOUR OWN CUT FLOWERS, by Sarah Raven features a number of Dahlia arrangements. Her suggestions include Chinese Lanterns both green and orange: nice for fall; Amaranthus, Snap Dragons, Nicotiana, and Euphorbia. She also shows Dahlias in contrasting coloured glass containers, which look very simple and striking. The photography is very beautiful and her advice detailed and practical.

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: Grow Your Own cut flowers

Amymalia, I likely planted mine in late April.

here is my cafe au lait from a couple years ago, very subtle pink on bland background, gives it an ivory tone.

amy... I just saw your post and had to laugh out loud!! Maybe there is something in the air? I was thinking "Oh! What a wonderful forum. I have so many questions and I've been focused on roses for so long now.... " ok, I'm going to read all your posts and other's responses, so thanks for asking questions, and thanks from another beginner to all you out there answering them.

Poochella: It is on my list to send to you. Last night when I was watering, I broke this blossom off- bummer. Since we are not getting those 90 degree days, the flowers are lasting soooo much longer. YIPPEE

Gorgeous! Looks very similar to my Nenekazi.

Hank is now over 6" wide, 6.5 maybe. It is slightly darker in person.

God Bless Hank! That is just beautiful.

Thank you Willow :)

It bought last year and I didn't get to see the first full bloom (I got it in the ground too late and the bloom didn't get full til it was too late and Jack got ahold of it)

I'm very proud of my babes this year. I'm already looking ahead to next spring and what I'm going to get :D

I will add my praise and whoo hoos for those photos and blooms! You have grown yourself a real beauty and it's almost as fun to watch your Kelvin Floodlight open before our eyes, as it is in person in the garden.
Well done!