It’s that bittersweet time of year. The dahlia blooms that dazzled us all summer are starting to fade, and the first hint of frost is in the air. As a fellow gardener, I know the feeling well. Now comes the big question every dahlia lover asks: do all dahlias have to be lifted for the…
We’ve all been there. Standing in the garden, hose in hand, trying to aim a stream of water at the base of our precious dahlias without soaking their delicate leaves. It’s a delicate dance, isn’t it? You worry about overwatering, underwatering, and the dreaded powdery mildew that loves damp foliage. It can feel like a…
There’s nothing quite like the heartbreak of walking into your garden to find a prized dahlia—one you’ve nurtured from a humble tuber—suddenly wilted, leaning sideways, or gone entirely. You check the soil, the water, the sun, but everything seems fine. Then you see it: a fresh mound of dirt nearby. Your heart sinks. Could a…
Have you ever stood in a garden centre, clutching a promising-looking dahlia tuber, and felt a wave of uncertainty? You can already picture those magnificent, dinner-plate-sized blooms in your garden, but the big question looms: where on earth is the best spot for them in our unique and varied South African climate? You’re not alone!…
Have you ever stood in your garden, dreaming of a lush, layered look that explodes with color from mid-summer right through the first frost? You see the big, romantic blooms of hydrangeas and the dazzling, intricate flowers of dahlias, and you wonder: can they actually grow together? It’s a common question, and the thought of…
Standing in the garden center, staring at a wall of vibrant seed packets and lumpy brown tubers, feeling completely torn? You’re not alone. It’s a classic gardener’s dilemma: choosing between two of summer’s most beloved, beautiful, and productive flowers. It’s the ultimate floral face-off. Don’t worry, I’m here to walk you through the great dahlias…
Ever gaze at a lush, overflowing hanging basket and wish you could create that same magic? Do you adore the intricate, show-stopping beauty of dahlias but feel limited by garden space or traditional flower beds? I’m here to let you in on a little secret that will change your patio, balcony, or porch forever. The…
There’s a special kind of heartache every gardener knows. It’s the feeling of walking out to your garden, coffee in hand, only to find your prized dahlias—the ones you babied from tiny tubers—mysteriously clipped, chewed, or gone entirely. You start to wonder, what phantom pest is treating your flower bed like a personal buffet? If…
Walk into any garden center in late summer, and you’re faced with a glorious dilemma. On one side, you have mounds of vibrant, jewel-toned chrysanthemums, the undisputed queens of autumn. On the other, the flamboyant, dinner-plate-sized dahlias are still putting on a spectacular show. They both offer breathtaking blooms, but that’s where the similarities end….