dahlias in07

Do you have to lift your Dahlias in the fall Flcrazy?

Actually I could leave them in the ground here and they survive in my zone 7b climate, but I have very heavy clay soil,and wet wintersand clay soil spells death to dahlias. I'm getting too old and down in my back to keep amending new flower beds, so I started growing them in the black nursery pots my other plants come in, (the one gal size mostly). I grow them next to a sheet of plastic latice fencing I use the hide a 500 gal. gas tank we use to heat the house with. I then, just mulch around the gas tank and pots, so you don't even know they're not planted in the ground. They're free, I'm recycling the pots, and in the falI I cut the tops off the dahlias put the pots on my covered back porch to dry out for about two weeks, and store them under the bed of all places.. lol. I just lay down a sheet of plastic under the bed to catch the potting soil that leaks out the drainage holes, and leave them there until spring. I don't have a heated garage, or a heated storage building. My mom just shook her head when she found out where I kept them, and said I just didn't realize just how bad I had the flower growing obsession until now. She said I needed professional help...lol . I said It was just wasted space under there anyway, and no one would be the wiser if she didn't tell, until now, that is..oops..

Hi no wonder your mum thinks your a little loopy,LOL If I could get away with it ID put them under the bed too, I love dahlias one of my favourites is called Edenbrugh. I'm getting a bit old now, so leave them in the ground to die back naturally, I have very good drainage in my garden, I mulch them with woodbark over winter,