Eastern Trial Garden
The American Dahlia Society sponsors a number of trial gardens across the United States and Canada. They are designed
To allow dahlia originators a way to rigorously evaluate and promote their new cultivars
To provide dahlia growers a way to know the quality and the classification of new introductions.
The American Dahlia Society has eight Trial Gardens throughout the United States. These trial gardens represent the various climates and growing conditions of possible new dahlia cultivars. Entries are grown, maintained and judged by the garden's home society. Dahlias that receive a score of at least 85 can be named, sold and entered into the American Dahlia Society’s Classification and Handbook of Dahlias (CHD).
The ADS Eastern Trial Garden is located at Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, Nassau County, New York. It is maintained by volunteers from Mid Island Dahlia Society (MIDS) who have access to Cornell Cooperative Extension master gardeners for any professional guidance that may be required.
The Garden is located in zone 7b, with an average high summer temperature of 81 degrees and a low of 62 degrees. Monthly rainfall averages 4 inches. ETG consists of both a trial and display garden, which receive supplemental irrigation and intensive weekly maintenance. Soil composition has been amply enriched with organic matter, is well draining and maintained on a weed-free basis.
The ADS sponsors Trial Gardens across North America to provide a place for hybridizers to have their new dahlia cultivars evaluated. MIDS maintains the Eastern Trial Garden at Eisenhower Park. Read how to submit tubers here .