Dahlias are easy to grow and bring life to your garden. They have bright colors, are strong, and can flower until the first frost. Dahlias like well-balanced and composted soil, and full sun. With 42 different species and thousands of cultivars, dahlias offer plenty of variety. Variations in color, flower form, size, and foliage make it easy to find one youll love.
Generally winter hardy in zones 7-10, and tubers can stay in the ground. In places that get cold, tubers can be dug up, stored for the winter, and then planted again in the spring, after there is no longer any risk of frost. (See below for storage tips. ).
It can be anywhere from 1 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide, depending on the type. Border dahlias are 15 to 20 inches tall.
According to Frances Palmer, well-known potter and dahlia enthusiast, a good planting time for tubers is May. Here are her recommendations for planting:
You can start tubers inside for 6 weeks before moving them to the garden if you live in a cold area and want to get a head start. Plant them in pots with potting soil and provide plenty of light and water. When the ground temperature in your garden reaches 60°F it is safe to transplant your dahlias.
Dahlias are one of the most stunning flowers you can grow, producing an incredible array of colors, shapes, sizes and textures. With their late summer and fall blooms, dahlias are perfect for brightening up your front yard when many other plants have faded. Careful planning and design can help you create a front yard dahlia garden that delivers spectacular visual impact.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll provide tips to assist you in designing your dream front yard dahlia garden from bed layout to plant selection. Let’s dive in!
Choosing the Best Site
To grow dahlias successfully, site selection is key. Here are important factors to consider:
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Sunlight: Dahlias need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Select the sunniest part of your front yard.
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Soil Dahlias prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6,0-65 Test your soil and amend if needed,
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Drainage Excellent drainage is crucial, as dahlias are prone to rot in soggy soil Choose elevated areas or improve drainage
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Wind protection: Shelter dahlias from excessive wind, which can damage the tall stalks. Use fences, hedges or plant in a protected courtyard.
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Convenience: Situate the dahlia bed close to your entry and hose for easy access and maintenance.
Structuring Your Dahlia Garden Beds
How you structure your dahlia garden beds can impact the visual design. Here are effective options:
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Single island bed: One large centralized bed provides maximum dahlia planting space and makes a bold statement.
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Parallel planting beds: Two long narrow beds running along the entry path to your front door provides symmetry.
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Bordered beds: Place shorter border plants around dahlia beds to frame them beautifully.
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Geometric beds: Square, rectangular or circular dahlia beds surrounded by lawn provides definition.
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Freeform beds: Curving, kidney-shaped or freeform dahlia beds look naturalistic.
Selecting the Right Dahlia Varieties
With over 42 different dahlia classifications, choosing varieties can be overwhelming! Here are tips:
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Consider heights: Select both tall (up to 5 feet) and short (1-2 feet) varieties for interest.
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Choose various bloom forms: Include single, anemone, peony, collarette, ball and more for diversity.
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Mix flower sizes: Combine giant 8-10 inch blooms with cute 2-4 inch ones for contrast.
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Blend flower colors: Incorporate every color of the rainbow for excitement in your front yard garden!
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Include bicolors: Pick varieties sporting two-toned petals for added wow factor.
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Add other elements: Foliage dahlias and single stem types add unique forms.
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Review options: Consult online lists of recommended dahlias to simplify selection.
Arranging Plants for Maximum Impact
How you arrange dahlias within the garden beds also greatly affects the design.
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Group similar dahlias: Plant 3-7 of one variety together to create a bold color block.
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Use short dahlias up front: Place dwarfs and low growers along walkways and bed edges.
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Showcase tall dahlias: Position the tallest dahlias prominently in the center or back.
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Repeat colors: Echo the same hues in different areas of the garden for harmony.
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Use symmetry: Balance your design by planting the same groupings on each side of central paths or entries.
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Include focal points: Highlight unique dahlias by placing accent plants around them.
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Allow enough space: Leave at least 12-24 inches between most dahlias for future growth and airflow.
Incorporating Other Complimentary Plants
While dahlias will be the stars of your garden, including supporting plants can add beauty and depth.
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Annuals: Low-growing annuals like petunias or marigolds make colorful border edging.
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Foliage plants: Large leafy plants like cannas, coleus or banana trees contrast beautifully with dahlias.
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Ornamental grasses: Grasses add movement and texture as well as winter interest.
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Roses: Place roses and dahlias together for a posh English cottage look.
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Shrubs: Bushes like hydrangeas serve as excellent dahlia bed anchors and backdrops.
Designing Supportive Hardscape and Features
The right hardscaping provides important bones for your garden design.
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Pathways: Winding or straight paths invite movement through the dahlia beds. Use gravel, bricks, flagstone or wood chips.
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Trellises and obelisks: These vertical structures provide climbing space for vining dahlia types.
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Arbors/pergolas: Use over pathways to create charming tunnels bursting with dahlias.
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Fences: Attractive picket or rail fences make great backdrops to showcase dahlias.
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Benches: Invite guests to sit, relax and enjoy the dahlias with comfortable benches.
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Water features: Fountains, ponds or birdbaths make soothing focal points within dahlia beds.
Key Design Tips for Success
Follow these vital tips when planning your front yard dahlia garden:
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Give dahlias the sunniest spot in your front yard for optimal blooms.
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Improve drainage by planting in raised beds and amending soil with compost.
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Include a diverse mix of dahlia varieties for endless color and interest.
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Use other plants like annuals, shrubs and ornamental grasses to accent the dahlias.
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Repeat colors and plant groupings for visual harmony and balance.
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Allow proper space between plants for mature growth and air circulation.
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Incorporate hardscaping like pathways, trellises and benches to enhance enjoyment.
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Site benches and beds conveniently near your entry for easy access and visibility.
Enjoying a Dazzling Front Yard Display
With proper planning, plant selection and design, your front yard can come
Planting dahlias in containers:
Low-growing or dwarf dahlias are best for growing in containers. Use a pot with drainage holes and a good quality potting mix. When starting, barely cover the tuber with soil, more can be added as the plant’s stem grows.
Get 7 tips for growing dahlias in pots in this video from Bethany @chicagogardener.
Dahlia tubers can be stored for the winter in your basement or garage. Photo by: Frances Palmer.
Digging and storing tubers:
If you live somewhere where you need to store your tubers for the winter, here are some helpful tips:
- After the first frost, flowers & stems will immediately wilt. After another few strong frosts, leave them in the ground for a week or two.
- Pull out support cages and/or stakes.
- Dig outside the circumference of the tubers with a pitchfork. The bigger the plant, the bigger the tuber. But don’t worry—if you break or damage a tuber while digging, it won’t hurt the plant.
- To give yourself something to hold on to, cut off the dead stems about 2 to 3 inches above the bunch of tubers. Then, gently shake off as much dirt as you can.
- Place a tag on the cut stem for identification.
- In the bottom of a big cardboard box, put a few inches of peat moss or wood shavings.
- Give the tubers one last shake to get rid of any remaining dry dirt. Then, put them in the box in layers, with the bigger tubers at the bottom. When it’s about half full, add another layer of packing material and more potatoes. Cover the whole thing with the storage material, shake it to settle, and then add more storage material on top. Fold flaps to close.
- It’s best to keep things in a basement or garage that stays cool, but not freezing.
Dahlias can be bothered by aphids, stem borers, spider mites, and caterpillars. Additionally, powdery mildew, dahlia mosaic virus and fungal leaf spot can also cause problems.
This late-season border is mostly made up of magenta ‘Ambition’ and deep red ‘Nuit d’Eté.’ Blue Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ and gladioli fill in the blanks. These late bloomers pick up where summer-flowering plants leave off, giving the garden a grand sendoff for winter. Photo by: Marianne Majerus.
There are many ways to use dahlias in the garden. Here are a few tips and suggestions:
- Their lower stems aren’t always pretty, and the plants are heavy (especially the big-flowered dinnerplate types), so they tend to fall over if they aren’t staked. By putting them among other plants, you can support their weight and hide their lower stems.
- Taller dahlias look good with ornamental grasses and perennials in the back or middle of borders. Shorter dahlias look good with annuals or shorter perennials.
- Plant the smallest varieties in containers.
- Dahlia flowers are very bright, so look around at what other flowers or leaves are around you. The dahlias will pick up on these colors and make them stand out.
- Asters and yellow dahlias or purple dahlias are two examples of late-flowering perennials that go well together. Look for ones that have the same color but a different texture.
- They can also look surprisingly good with grasses because the contrast between the big, bright flowers and the finely textured grasses is so great.
- In more formal settings, the sharp leaves of clipped hedges can bring out their bright colors.
- Because their stems are longer, larger dahlias tend to be better for cutting.
Dahlias will be a beautiful sight in September, no matter how they are used. They will help the summer garden end on a high note.
Front garden tour with all the DAHLIAS
FAQ
What to plant in front of dahlias?
How to arrange dahlias in a garden?
What side of house do you plant dahlias?
How do I send pictures of my dahlia garden?
If you have pictures of your garden that features dahlias in a garden setting, send them on to the webmaster along with a short description of the garden. There will also be hints and practices that will make your dahlia growing less stressful and easy.
How do you plant a dahlia bed?
Check out my plan in my Designing a Dahlia Bed video here. I recommend planting the tallest varieties in the back, and the shorter ones in the front. Dahlias have LOTS of foliage, and this method will keep your shorter plants (like your collarettes and poms) from getting buried behind the dinnerplate greenery.
How big should a dahlia plant be?
In colder zones, tubers can be dug up, stored for winter and re-planted in spring, after all danger of frost has passed. (See below for storage tips.) 1 to 6 feet tall, and 1 to 3 feet wide depending on the variety; border dahlias range 15 to 20 inches tall. Full sun Well-balanced, organically rich and well-drained soil. Medium
How do you store a dahlia plant?
Fold flaps to close. Store in a cool basement or garage that gets to about 40 degrees, but not below freezing. Dahlias can be bothered by aphids, stem borers, spider mites, and caterpillars. Additionally, powdery mildew, dahlia mosaic virus and fungal leaf spot can also cause problems.
