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| It's been a while since I've posted anything...my dahlias were just starting to really put on lots of buds when Hurricane Ike rolled through. It destroyed them all. My stakes (heavy metal fence posts) were blown down, picked up out of the ground, etc. 100 mph winds are apparently not good for Dahlias. I was so disappointed. I lost most of my other plants in the storm too. A 35-yr-old oak fell on two of my cars and almost everything else in my front yard. So, I'm having to rebuild my entire garden. Yesterday, planted iris, crocus, and daffodil bulbs. Getting ready to order tubers for next year. I would like mostly pinks, whites, reds, and I'm hoping to stay with shorter plants (28-40" tall). I'm in zone 9. Can anyone recommend a few good ideas?
Thank God, my house and my family are fine, learned to live simply after 16 days without electricity! No damage that a little gardening won't fix! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Thank God, you have your house! a garden can be rebuilt and it will get your mind off other things. I feel so badly for you and everyone in that crises. |
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- Posted by vikingcraftsman 6/7LINY (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 10:17
| First I would like to say how sorry I am for you. Glad your family is ok. We hope you will look at all the pictures here and get inspired to do better next year. If there is any chance to take cutting from the mess give it a try. I know you are very busy putting your life back togeather, but if it would help you get through the winter go for it. |
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- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 13:46
| I'm glad your Ok too. The dahlias still in the ground will likely put up new sprouts. Once they have, you can dig them up and store them until next year. Pink = Gitts Perfection All from Swan Island Dahlias. Cheers, |
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- Posted by dahlia_newbie 9 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 22:00
| Thanks everybody. I would love to try cuttings, I looked this afternoon, and there are a few green branches still kind of trying to adjust after having been flattened...After first seeing them laying down and shredded, I hadn't had the heart to look again until my husband reported seeing some green leaves. I'll search for cutting how-to's on the web and the forum, but any advice on avoidable problems or expert cuttings tips would be really appreciated. Since getting power back, we've made a pretty good recovery...my husband finished replacing his truck bed today...the original "Maynard" was a 1991 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4. It wasn't a daily driver, but he used it alot. The bed had to be replaced, but no frame damage. Now it's a 1991/2000 LOL. Looks odd, but does the job. He's happy to have it back. Now we just have a yard to remove the ripples from (the tree left an imprint), lots of plants to replace, and a garage to build (so the cars don't get killed next time). I'm excited about the new possibilities of more sunlight with that tree gone, but I am sad to have lost so many established plants. So many people have lost so much, it breaks my heart. I can't imagine the struggle they have ahead of them to get their lives back together after losing a home or worse, a loved one, in this storm. Thank you all for your kind words, and your warm thoughts for those affected by Ike. Keep the prayers coming, there are many who still need all the help they can get! |
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- Posted by plantlady2008 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 22:32
| dahlia newbie--if the tubers are still in the ground & not pulled out & blown away, you can cut off the stock near the ground -- leave about 6" of stock if you have that much. The plant will regrow & the tubers will still be fine. Then you can dig them later or not depending on where you live & if you have killing frost. Hope you get everything all fixed up better than ever! |
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- Posted by dahlia_newbie 9 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 23:10
| THANKS Plantlady. Nothing got uprooted in the Dahlia patch that I can tell, just a lot of "snappage". Your advice sounds like a great solution...I think I'll try one or two cuttings too. I got a pleasant surprise this evening while looking through the yard...I had randomly planted a tuber that I didn't have room for in my dahlia bed at the base of a tree in my front yard this summer, and I forgot all about it. Tthis evening, I found it in amongst my cast iron plant while picking up more sticks and limbs. It's about 20 inches "tall", but kind of laying down. It has a bud. JOY. Don't know what it is, but I'm going to stake it tomorrow and keep watch. Looks like it might be something white. |
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