Ornamentals That Love the Sun - Dahlias

Got a bright, sunny spot that needs some company? Over the next three days we are discussing three ornamentals that will fill this void - today we'll feature Dahlias. Dahlias are an easy flower to love. They come in all sizes, from dwarf plants that can be tucked away in a border to almost bush-like giants. They have a variety of bloom shapes and shades that range from white to multiple colors. Dahlias thrive in sunny beds amended with lots of organic matter. Other than regular, deep watering and occasional deadheading, you'll find dahlias to be relatively carefree plants. I like using the flowers for indoor arrangements and have discovered that earwig bugs like to hide between the flower petals. I once had several crawl out in the middle of a dinner party! So now, when I cut dahlias to bring indoors, I immerse the entire flower in a bucket of water to dislodge any hitchhiking pests Classification: Annual Growing Zones: 5-10 Sun Exposure: Loves - Full Sun Soil Moisture: Moist, well-drained Soil Types/Tolerance: Normal, loamy, Clay, Sandy Bloom: Early Summer to Early Fall Uses: Cut Flowers, Border, Beds, Ornamental