They're late to leaf this year I think so still quite small. Some are bravely trying again after having been nibbled to the ground the first time around. So the leaves are still quite small. And some have continued to grow but are just a mass of stalks!!! Perhaps keeping them in pots is a better option. I do put glass jars over them overnight but the one night I forget...
If so, I'd definitely look to start them in large plastic pots if you have the space.
They'll get a good head start on the ones in the ground and be big enough for slugs and snails to not be too much of an issue by the time you plant them out.
I didn't realise just how far behind ones in the ground might be until I went to Glamis Castle at the weekend. They have a fantastic dahlia display later in summer but the plants are about 2ft tall at best and nowhere near flowering.
All mine bar a couple of stragglers are starting to get into gear now and began flowering in June.
I'm a little (probably a lot) behind you in habitat-forming @GemmaJF but hopefully on the same path. Very interesting and inspiring the description of your garden and its habitats. One thing I did was to make a reasonably chunky curved dry-stone wall from York stone (that's something I'd actually do different now, I'd try to use local reclaimed material). It did not work well as a standalone structure, so I've now made it a retaining wall with a good mound on the inside, descending into a dip. Hopefully it will be a good place for reptiles; I did already find a frog lurking behind one of the stones. The mound and dip form an interesting nano-climate and add interest; it's on its way to becoming densely planted. As for lawn @Camelliad in my lawn I've invited (seeded, actually) things like white clover, self-heal, yarrow, and creeping cinquefoil. This aids wild-life hugely, is lower maintenance, and looks better without watering during dry periods. This year we've mostly kept it short using shears, it depends a bit on the year. Another part of the lawn, the bit where my stepping stones are, is being converted to a tapestry lawn (sounds a bit pretentious maybe, but it's fun). This has species such as thyme, aceana, button-grass, ground-ivy, erodium, sedum and other low-growing plants. It's early days for this part and highly experimental, but very enjoyable, again loved by pollinators.
I love the idea of a tapestry lawn - and I love the look of them. I have some sagina subulata stepping stones - I'm waiting for them to puff out a bit before I decide what to add but I like the idea of thyme. I hope you will post a photo when it's done @micearguers. I am also looking at more drought tolerant planting - I didn't pay attention to this when we first took over the garden and I wish I had. A lovely idea.
@Dirty Harry thank you yes I think you're right. Technically we are warm enough here for me not to have to lift them but actually I think I might just grow and keep them in pots and then just place the pots strategically once they're big enough. This feels like a better solution.
@Camelliad there a few at the bottom of the plant - but no, slugs and snails have not been a problem at all, even in bad years. My plants are maybe four years old now and get stronger with each year.
At first I tried dahlias in the ground and they were razed over night. After seeing discussion this forum I went for pots and it's been surprisingly easy even since. They are big, heavy pots and I have no greenhouse of home space for them in winter, so fleecing has been the best answer for me. When the foliage has been frosted and withered, I cut it right back, cover the top of the pot with old compost bags and fleece them will for the winter, winding everything up in string.
Life doesnt like my front garden, so my dahlias, only a couple, live there now.
After years of feeding the crack/dahlia habit of slugs in the back garden, its the only way for me. Theyre not as lush as they could be, but neither are they embarassing stumps as they would be.
@Camelliad there a few at the bottom of the plant - but no, slugs and snails have not been a problem at all, even in bad years. My plants are maybe four years old now and get stronger with each year.
At first I tried dahlias in the ground and they were razed over night. After seeing discussion this forum I went for pots and it's been surprisingly easy even since. They are big, heavy pots and I have no greenhouse of home space for them in winter, so fleecing has been the best answer for me. When the foliage has been frosted and withered, I cut it right back, cover the top of the pot with old compost bags and fleece them will for the winter, winding everything up in string.
Life doesnt like my front garden, so my dahlias, only a couple, live there now.
After years of feeding the crack/dahlia habit of slugs in the back garden, its the only way for me. Theyre not as lush as they could be, but neither are they embarassing stumps as they would be.
Embarrassing stumps - that's exactly it!!!! Yes ours is the same - fewer slugs in the front.
Posts
If so, I'd definitely look to start them in large plastic pots if you have the space.
They'll get a good head start on the ones in the ground and be big enough for slugs and snails to not be too much of an issue by the time you plant them out.
I didn't realise just how far behind ones in the ground might be until I went to Glamis Castle at the weekend. They have a fantastic dahlia display later in summer but the plants are about 2ft tall at best and nowhere near flowering.
All mine bar a couple of stragglers are starting to get into gear now and began flowering in June.
As for lawn @Camelliad in my lawn I've invited (seeded, actually) things like white clover, self-heal, yarrow, and creeping cinquefoil. This aids wild-life hugely, is lower maintenance, and looks better without watering during dry periods. This year we've mostly kept it short using shears, it depends a bit on the year.
Another part of the lawn, the bit where my stepping stones are, is being converted to a tapestry lawn (sounds a bit pretentious maybe, but it's fun). This has species such as thyme, aceana, button-grass, ground-ivy, erodium, sedum and other low-growing plants. It's early days for this part and highly experimental, but very enjoyable, again loved by pollinators.
@Dirty Harry thank you yes I think you're right. Technically we are warm enough here for me not to have to lift them but actually I think I might just grow and keep them in pots and then just place the pots strategically once they're big enough. This feels like a better solution.
After years of feeding the crack/dahlia habit of slugs in the back garden, its the only way for me. Theyre not as lush as they could be, but neither are they embarassing stumps as they would be.