Care of dahlias and roses

Get the best from these popular perennials, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

DAHLIAS and roses are two of our best loved summer plants, and for good reason.

Both offer us an innumerable number of colour palettes and varieties and create some of the most iconic and dazzling looks in horticulture, combined with a longevity that sees them flowering from midsummer right through until well into autumn.

There literally are dahlias and roses for every garden and outdoor space. Be it in a container on a sunny patio or on a balcony, creating visual 'wow' moments in a border, or climbing up a trellis, arbour or house front.

They should be just about to arrive at their peak now, filling the garden with colour and fragrance, and with the right care and attention will keep on going until well into the autumn.

Last year our wonderful 'Gertrude Jeykll' climbing rose at the front of the house flowered three times, the final floral salvo coming in November. It will be interesting to see whether she can match or beat that this year.

On this page I look at how you can keep dahlias healthy through summer and on page 5 I turn my attention to roses, with emphasis on the dreaded rose black spot

Keeping dahlias in good health