dahlias

its my first year in growing dahlias and even though the weather has been bad they seem to have done very well.ive read about and been told about storage over the winter ie wrapping them up and putting them in a dark place.but as the winters are fairly mild of late...fingers crossed. would they survive if i cut them down to ground level and left them out if so what is the prep and when do i cut them :confused:

 

I certainly wouldn't risk it but if you decide you would like to, then make sure you pile hay or straw on top of the cut down plants then put hessian sacking on top of that and weight it down to stop it blowing away.

Will be sending the Cerinthe seed out next week by the way. You won't need to plant them till next spring so I shan't rush.

 

I'd cut down after the first real frost and them mulch heavily if its cold in your area, I tend to get away without the mulch even around here, but my few are planted pretty deep.
Rot is probably your main problem.

 

first year at dahalia s/ whopping pom poms

 

a shame i got to go in the shed before that frost gets me

 

Lovely dahlias there I.P. I'm not taking any chances with mine I'm gonna dig mine up.

We might just get 'lucky' if you like that wording and have a proper winter this year and you little dahlias might not be so lucky...if you know what I mean?
Helen.xxx.

 

I have Bishop of Llandaff dahlias and they have been in garden for around 6 yrs, never dig them up and they get bigger and better every year!

 

dont think ill risk leaving these in. got these
off a bloke at work who is president of a dahalia
society he told me to break off any new shoots as the plant gets bigger ..said they are show plants so i should try and get two big massive pom poms instead of loads of smaller ones <rather boring> suppose its each to there own but i prefer to get as many as i can is there a wrong way or right way. ill have a look at bishop of landaff

 

I agree IP I would indeed like loads of smaller pom pom flowers than one or two as they do look stunning in your garden!
Helen.xxx.

 

thanks helen thought it was a waste to only have two big pom poms i think the more the merrier