So how does one get an entire garden covered with wonderful dahlias? Well, although there are a couple of ways that work perfectly - the easiest way however is simply using bulbs. It is actually as simple as just sticking the bulb in the ground and watching it grow. Unlike seeds, the dahlia bulb is not likely to get eaten by any animals, although some deer have happened to dig up and eat bulbs during periods when it is difficult to find other sources of food. Growing dahlias from bulbs simply saves a lot of time that can be used for the rest of the garden - there is always more to do for a gardener. Plus, you will always know what colour and style your dahlia will be when it pops out of the ground!
The bulb is also known as a rhizome and is the heart and soul of the dahlia. Although it might look as any other piece of thick root it is actually the container of all that is the dahlia and it is the origin point where the beautiful plant and the life-giving roots grow from. Once in the ground the dahlia bulb, will start gathering water and nutrition to start up the growing process. Once the dahlia has begun to grow above ground, photosynthesis will kick in and the plant will have all it needs to produce beautiful flowers. So remember, water, nutrition and energy, those are the three most important things for any plant to grow. For a colourful showing of dahlias, it is best to work composted manure into the bed where the planting will be located in order to furnish the dahlia with an abundance of nutrients.
Planting an ordinary bulb is more or less as easy as sticking it in the ground but the dahlia is a little bit more needy - it demands some preparation. Because of its origins and history it is safe to say that the dahlia likes sun, so much that it rarely can survive without it in a very shady location, so think about that when choosing a spot for planting. The soil in this spot should then have a lot of compost or manure worked into it because the dahlia will need a great deal of nutrition - just make sure that the soil stays well-drained otherwise the bulb might rot once planted. Once the planting bed is prepared you can begin laying your dahlias in the soil - dahlia bulbs do not want to be planted deep and just an inch or so below ground level is enough. Of course, if you purchased your new dahlia from a garden centre, you will likely have obtained specific instructions from the packaging or from your garden staff, so be sure to use this information to get the best results. If you want to plant more than one dahlia, they should be at least three inches apart. After that one only needs to water richly and play the waiting game until the dahlia has gotten itself settled and starts to grow.
Once the dahlia is planted and growing well there is actually no problem at all getting new bulbs, or rhizomes. The fact is that bulbs will start to produce more and more bulbs, thus spreading from its original spot. For those that do not want the dahlia to take over the entire garden it is a good idea to dig up those new dahlia bulbs every other year or so surrounding the original ones and either replant them, give them to friends or simply throw them away. But better to find a friend to give them to rather than let them go to waste! Many communities have a gardening exchange where you can trade with your neighbours and grow your garden at little to no cost. You can find information on these generally through your city or community websites.