Depending on the type of dahlia you have, they do grow large. The saucer type grow as high as wide so with lots of foliage it needs space and needs to be tied up.
That should be arranged far in advance of their growing.
I intertwine them with cord, each supporting each other but stakes at picked places.

Yeah� this is a problem for me as well.

I have a cutting garden and I also put the dahlias all over my other gardens.

Yes, you can see the stakes, but it really only bothers me. I know they are there so I just stare at them�. Other�s cant even see them.

I use regular bamboo stakes. So they aren�t too big of an eye sore. You can also keep them pinched back pretty good so they are bushier and don�t need as much staking.

All in all, I think looking at a little stake is worth it!

Keriann~