Marianne's Response

Cutting back dahlias

Most of my dahlias fell over during the wind storm. I’m not looking to stake them back up (they’re in my backyard so I’m not worried about aesthetics), but I’m wondering if I can cut them back now? I usually don’t dig up the tubers over the winter, but I was thinking of doing this, and online websites said it’s too early. So does that mean if I cut off the dahlias now that will also be bad? Some of the stems broke and will be dead, but some just fell over. What should I do? I’m sure everyone’s dahlias fell over that weren’t firmly staked! Some of mine were in cages that fell over, and the only ones that stayed up were literally tied up to the fence.

Posted by crff on August 31, 2015

Marianne's Response

I have compromised and cut my dahlias back by half after the big wind storm. The reason you don't want to cut them to the ground is because the foliage is still making food for the tuber below and this will make flowers for next summer. If the stems snapped at ground level go ahead and snip them off and perhaps some new growth will appear. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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