Hi, if the leaves are brown/dead, remove them, Dahlia's need a lot of water, so in pots you have to water them fairly often, try to keep the soil moist but not wet, and if you've use multi purpose compost a feed wouldn't go amiss, Derek.

Thank you. Im on it :)

I made the same mistake last year. Dahlias in pots require so much 'babysitting' I will never do it again. As mentioned above, water, water, water. They also need rich humus soil so be careful not to wash out the nutrients when you water, water, water. Did I mention that dahlias need lots of water? The pot you have it in might be too small to support it. Dahlias are better planted in the ground. The tubers underground need lots of space to multiply & expand as they suck up lots and lots of water.

Pelargoniums on the other hand do so much better in pots than in the ground and they don't want a lot of water, nor do they have the tubers. That's what I have this year in my patio pots.

Can I move them into the ground now or is it to late ?

Ooh and what is Pelargonium ? Sorry to ask so many questions - I'm just starting out. Thank you

Yes, since it's early in the season, I think you can move it with success. Here is a link that explains how to do it;

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/transplant-dahlias-48176.html

Here is a link for Pelargoniums:

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers-plants-shrubs/popular-plants/geranium-pelargonium

A lot of people still call Pelargoniums geraniums, even in garden centres so you will recognise them easily.
If you put your dahlias in the ground watch out for slugs. They ruined mine even in pots and I've given up on them.

That's true, but the slugs will still find your dahlias even if they were in pots. Something like Sluggo or Bug Getta should keep them away.

I'd leave them in pots, frankly - its only a couple of months till they need digging up if they're in the ground, and it will be even harder to make sure they get enough water till then - the rootballs will be potshaped and will remain that way for 6-8 weeks, and to get the whole rootball wet planted in the ground requires an awful lot of watering, which is why any planting in summer isn't recommended. But do check they're not potbound - turn them out of their pots to check, and if you see roots wrapped round and round, pot on into something larger, water in well.

Thanks you lovely lot. I've taken the dead leaves off now and given them a good drink. I'll feed them tomorrow. Thanks again :)

That's not helpful at all I'm afraid. I'm speaking from experience. Keeping them in pots will only magnify the problem as they grow larger and will need yet even more water. The flowers won't last as long either & your current problem will only get worse. You have 4 months ahead (not 2) to enjoy your plants and haven't even begun to bloom yet. They can easily be transplanted into the garden.

Sorry Bathgate in the UK 2 months at most. I'd leave them in pots for this year and simply keep well watered.

I'm sorry Mg, but YOU are wrong. The first frost dates in the UK occur in either October or November depending on your location.

Here is a map to check your location for the exact date.

http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-united-kingdom-first-frost-date-map.php

Secondly, Monty Don - a highly decorated professional gardener in the UK. We also get him here in the US. recommends this:

However, it is a mistake to lift them before the first frost because the tubers carry on growing and swelling right up to the last moment, so lifting them early simply reduces the health and size of next year’s plant and the number of flowers it will produce. Wait until the tops have fully died back, then cut back the top growth to 15cm (6in) while they are still in the ground and carefully dig up the tubers, removing as much soil as possible.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gardening/article-2745139/Want-dahlias-forever-It-s-splendid-summer-dahlias-look-tubers-carefully-winter-ll-bloom-year-year-says-Monty-Don.html#ixzz4lyxKR9r0
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You have 4-5 months between now and your first frost date. I'd listen to Monty.

How long they will be OK depends very much on where you live - UK has a very sharply graded climate both north to south and east to west. The questioner lives much further south than MG and can count on longer, but the vagaries of our climate are highly unpredictable and you can't bank on it. Monty Don lives in Herefordshire which is on the west side and comparatively mild. On the East coast and further north it would be a very different story. This is one of the reasons that GOY hope people will put their county on their profile but sadly a lot of people don't bother which often makes an accurate reply more difficult.
The map give the average date of the first frost, not the earliest possible, so you would get some first frosts quite a lot earlier and some much later. Where I live now we only had a few very light frosts all winter this year, and only snow twice in 10 years, whereas where I use to live, only just under 250 miles away, we sometimes had snow so deep we couldn't leave the house and winters were bitter..
I get the impression that the US is more predictable but gardeners everywhere are aware of the weather in their own area..

Sorry Bathgate you are obviously reading national figures... we can have a frost any month of the year and often do! Please consider the fact you don't have all the info. living in the US I certainly wouldn't accuse you of being wrong if you were referring to an American situation. The US has a continental climate, the UK a maritime one and they produce very different weather patterns.

Hi, sorry I should have put my county on my Profile. I'm in Suffol in the Uk. I've had frosts early October here. Sorry if I've caused a 'todo'

Not your fault New at this

Not at all, New at this. We can't all understand other peoples climates in detail, but its probably best not to contradict the people who live there...

OK so October is still 4 months & chances are it wasn't a hard freeze. That's what I've been saying all along.

Mg - You keep telling me where I live. why?

The map I provided above is for the UK. You are free to check out other references if you don't like the one I offered. Do a little research of your own. Yes, I know I live in the US. thank you! Now the whole world knows where I live.

Stera - I see you are trying to help and I really appreciate that. I'm not saying I'm 100% right on all accounts, but I try to provide reliable & honest research before I give out information & I also speak from personal experience. Monty Don is an authority on the topic and you know he is.

Transplanting your dahlias might take all of 10 minutes - still worth it for even 2 months. If you miss a day of watering and go away, they'll be OK if planted in the ground, not so much the pots. Enough for me. good luck :)

Because the map is not accurate... those of us who live in the UK know this and, perhaps, it is something you need to take on board. Not just myself but Bamboo advised leaving the dahlias in pots for this year. I am going to stop following in the question now and trust that new to this has not been completely put off by your attitude.

I just don't feel that's the best course of action to follow. I'm sorry if you don't agree, but that's OK.

Thank you for all messages received. Think it's best to put this one to bed now. Enjoy the sun :)

Thank you for all messages received. Think it's best to put this one to bed now. Enjoy the sun :)

Thanks New, this happens occasionally on here I've noticed