An old favourite which has stood the test of time, Dahlia 'Sandra' produces picture-perfect rose-pink flowers, each petal softly frosted with paler edges. At 1m tall, Dahlia 'Sandra' is ideal for mingling through the middle to back of a border, though be sure to plant plenty of spares for the vase as with its strong, straight stems it is just begging to be used as a cut flower!  

As well as cutting for indoors, nipping off spent blooms (deadheading) is a useful exercise for encouraging the plant to flower longer and harder. Spent flowers of Dahlia 'Sandra' and new buds can look similar until you train your eye—just remember if it is pointed and squishy it can get the chop; if it is rounded and firm it’s a new bud still waiting to open. Once a spent flower has been identified, simply follow the stem down and snip above the first pair of leaves you come to.