Hey everyone! I'm a newbie gardener and I'm starting fresh with my front garden, which is currently just lawn. It's south-facing, and I'm planning to dig out a bed to plant some dahlias. I'm looking for suggestions on what other plants I could add to the border for variety. I want it to look nice throughout the entire year. Any advice would be super appreciated!
5 Answers
In my opinion, dahlias look best solo because they can be quite bold, but if you're into mixing things up, consider using tall annuals like cosmos or Cleome nearby. Just make sure you can easily reach the dahlias for cutting and deadheading. I usually rotate dahlias and tulips in my garden, so if you're thinking of that combo, planting them in large pots can work well!
Just a heads-up, you're probably going to lose some dahlias to slugs if you aren't careful—they wrecked mine last year!
I’d go for a mix of evergreens and flowering shrubs to keep things vibrant year-round. Try rosemary, hebe, and get some spring bloomers like camellia and weigela in there. You can also mix in some long-blooming roses and add texture with ornamental grasses for extra flair!
You’ll definitely want some evergreen plants since dahlias die back in winter. A ceanothus would thrive in your sunny spot!
If you plan to keep your dahlias planted over winter, try adding Helenium and Chrysanthemum with them. That way, when you do your fall pruning, you can also plant daffodils for spring blooms. For a cool twist, check out Ranunculus to fill the gap between daffodils and your dahlias!
Thanks for the tip! I'm worried about it looking empty in the fall and winter though.