Software
Houzz Logo Print
natasha_prasad84

Flower bed mistake need help ASAP!

6 years ago

I am trying to get into gardening and foolishly chose to plant dahlias in the flower bed in my front yard. After doing more research(which I should have done FIRST) I am noticing that dahlias grow to be extremely tall and I fear this will look awkward as I did not plant anything in front to fill the gaps in... I am new to this and clearly messed up.... I am desperate for any advice anyone can give as to how to make the flower bed look nice. Is there a flower that grows low to the ground that has a big blossom and would kind of spread so it would fill the gaps in? I really dont want more greenery and I do not want to dig the dahlias up..... Please help! I want a flower with a big blossom so it will be noticeable if I was viewing it from the street. I would really appreciate any advice anyone could offer!




Comments (14)

  • 6 years ago

    Those are seed dahlias and will not get as tall or as large as you expect. At least not this season.

    If this were my planting bed, I would not have lined them out in a row as that seldom presents a pleasing aesthetic. At the very least, I would have opted for a staggered planting. But if you don't want to dig up and redo, all I can suggest is to fill in with a low growing, spreading annual.

    Natasha Shahram thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
  • 6 years ago

    Yes: baby dahlias like these are never going to grow tall or fill in between that wide spacing.

    Natasha Shahram thanked Embothrium
  • 6 years ago

    Hi Natasha,
    You've got a beautiful bed to work with!
    Welcome to gardening! Wave petunias would be beautiful planted with your dahlias. It is more pleasing to stagger annuals and not have soldier straight rows. Good thing is you can easily dig up and replant. The Drift series of roses are beautiful,low growing and so easy care. They'd be lovely along your rocks with complementing annuals.
    If you're in a Southern region I highly reccomend Southern Living's garden book.
    Best of luck and have fun with it!

    Natasha Shahram thanked GeorgiaPeach 1970
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you all so much for the advice. I really appreciate it.

    Unfortunately the nursery did not have many options, I ended up planting a few Dianthus around the dahlias... Hopefully I didn't mess the flower bed up even more!

  • 6 years ago

    I think it will be fine.

    Natasha Shahram thanked emmarene9
  • 6 years ago

    It will be fine. Give it time and add annuals for this year while you plan for next. I cannot tell you how many mistakes I have made in my gardens (and I continue to make some, too-ha) in 40 years. One thing to note about petunias, if you decide to add some, is that they require constant deadheading. They are gorgeous, but to keep them blooming, you absolutely must deadhead.

    Natasha Shahram thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
  • Natasha Shahram thanked User
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you all so much for the help! These are photos I took today, I am hoping they will get bigger soon :)





  • 6 years ago

    I was actually going to recommend dianthus. They are low-growing, moderately-spreading perennials that bloom multiple times through the season and provide lots of color in sunny areas. Flowers are small but plentiful.

  • 6 years ago

    If you want the flower to be covered with flowers you will need a fast growing annual. The dahlias and dianthus will not grow fast enough to fill up the space by the time frost is here. I saw on another thread that you added portulaca/purslane, which should help. The only way to get the bed covered with blooms is to pick up several six packs of blooming annuals from the friendly neighborhood big box store before they become desolate (it is surprising how the nurseries become desolate and empty come summer). Trailing petunias, Lobelia (erinus), Geraniums (pelargonium), begonias, periwinkle, impatience are good choices.

  • 6 years ago

    please someone help! something is wrong with my dahlias....I thought maybe I just needed to deadhead them but i am having to dead head every single day....and I realized this is happening to even the small buds! they are drying/shribling up way too early. something is not right. Please any advice someone could give to help me save my dahlias...this is happening to almost every single one of my dahlias. I do water them regularly....they at least 6 hours of full sun a day... the weather has been over 70 since I have planted them but below 90..I know this isnt lack of sun or water...something is wrong and its taking every single one of my flowers no matter how much I deadhead




  • 6 years ago

    The plants pictured look fine. The flowers are not supposed to last forever, they will shrivel up eventually and their durability is dependent on the temperature. In warmer temperatures the flowers will start deteriorating faster than in cooler temperatures.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree! The foliage is very healthy. Those blossoms are just spent.