Flowers are showy from mid-summer until autumn. Some of the low growing varieties can be used as a colorful, inexpensive, summer hedge. There are many colors to choose from - rich reds, deep purples, pinks, orange and yellows. May is a good time to plant dahlia tubers. The tubers are then dug in the fall and stored during the winter in all but the mildest coastal climates.
Starts are rooted cuttings taken from a mature dahlia plant.
Since the leafy plants are more frost sensitive than a tuber, care must be taken to plant starts later than tubers waiting until June is best, about tomato planting time. Dahlias from starts will usually die with the first frost in the fall, whereas tubers can be pulled and saved. Plant dahlias in full sun in well-drained, fertile soil. Make sure there's one good growth bud on each tuber planted. The planting hole should be four or five inches deep and large enough at the bottom to lay each tuber on its side.