Planning What to do With Your Dahlia's at End of Summer?

WHAT TO DO AT THE END OF THE SEASON

Dahlias are perennials and are not winter hardy. In nature the tops die back in the winter and growth the following spring comes from new buds formed on the roots. The same process will occur in your garden as the days begin to shorten and the temperatures drop in the fall. This cycle repeats indefinitely if the plants have good drainage and are not disturbed. 

You have two choices when it comes to over-wintering your dahlias. Leave them in the ground or you can dig them out. We recommend leaving your dahlias where you planted them and enjoying them for a few seasons before digging them. If your soil is well drained and does not freeze solid you can manage them so they will return each spring for 3-4 or more years. Digging dahlias is laborious. It involves washing, dividing, labeling, storage, and replanting, often during the wettest and coldest months of the year. 

Either way, to ensure your plants enter the dormant period in the best condition, withhold fertilizer the last 30 days before anticipated freeze or allow them to slowly decline in the fall to avoid lush growth at the end of the season. This promotes sound roots that will over-winter in the soil or the storage container in the best possible condition. 




Good Advice reprinted from http://cgdahlias.com