Winter Care

The big question is to lift or not to lift and there is no simple answer.

In general people lose dahlias overwinter because they get wet and drown rather than because of the cold so in general we would suggest lifting in the autumn if your garden is clay or otherwise gets waterlogged.

Cut it down after first hard frosts , lift carefully and turn upside down somewhere dry for a while.  You may wish to dust the cut stems with Flowers of Sulphur. When the attached soil has dried ease it away from the tuber and then store it in an open top box ( not cardboard ) in just damp peat or spent compost. Then store that box somewhere cool but frost free.

In the spring you can put your tuber in a pot and start it off under protection and you can take cuttings at this time also.

If you decide to leave your tubers in over winter cut them down and mark with a stake then cover with 3 or 4 inches of mulch ( not plastic sheeting ).

In the spring we recommend you put slug pellets down at least a month earlier than you think you ought to because slugs love the young shoots even when under ground