I was wondering the same thing, Tilly, although mine are still in full flower so haven't even lifted them YET! I am wondering NOW if I should do so soon.

If someone answers you, could they also add any advice on leaving them in the ground...or not!

I've spent hours today lifting fuchsias (young ones) and pelargoniums, cutting back and potting up to go indoors! I am tempted to leave the dahlias...?

Tilly, just feel them and take a look - you'll see if they're dry. Now you need to store them in dry compost or sawdust. Not on the top - in it. You'll be able to watch over them and make sure that they don't get leaked on, won't you....??

Is your conservatory heated or cold? If it's heated above about 5 degrees, then stick to the garage, I'd say.

Izzy, mine are still in flower too. Wait until the frost blackens the foliage, then you can decide whether to dig them up and store them, or leave them in and mulch over the top of them. It very much depends on a) your soil. b) the winter temps. in your area, and c) if you feel able to rescue them!

Clay or heavy wet soil would probably rot them, while very low temps. for a longish period would kill them. It's always a gamble. I'm going to leave most of mine, and just dig up a really nice pink one called 'Roxy' and also 'Renoir'. The others will have to look after themselves.

About 5 or 6 years ago I planted a white cactus type Dahlia in my sister's garden. It had grown on my balcony the year before. This Dahlia has come up every year since then. My sister never does anything to look after it yet every year it has come up & flowered all summer. This year I thought it had succumbed to the extremely cold winter but I saw it growing again a long time after it normally started to grow other years but it hasn't had a single flower this year.

Down on the allotment two Decorative Dahlias have survived the winter & have been flowering for months. Again these have had no care whatsoever, except that this year I watered them a few times during the long hot summer we had & gave them a watering with some liquid fertilizer on a couple of occasions.

Wow! All in all, I think I'll take my chances and leave them in the ground! Our garden is pretty well-protected and most plants survived last winter....this year I am going to fleece all the cordylines though!

There is so much to do to tidy up for winter and I don't want to spend all of half -term gardening, however much I enjoy it!

Thanks you for the helpful comments, Balcony and SPH...if I may abbreviate your name?

Most people call me 'Spritz', Izzy. :-) Good luck with your dahlias.

Hope they come through the winter for you. If you can stop them from sitting in cold water all winter they should be fine.

Thanks both.Lol...I knew I had seen some abbreviation, Spritz! Think I will take my chances this winter,Balcony!

I've spent the whole morning clearing summer bedding, cutting back and potting up even more young fuchsias and pelargoniums...what a faff! They are all indoors in empty bedrooms...hubby will just love that...NOT!

I have another question now....but you've done enough!

You carry on, Izzy - fire away - what's the next question?

Go ahead & ask your question there are plenty of people willing to help you.

Hi spritz, balcony & izzy. thanks for the advice spritz and balcony. Once i know they are dry i'll move them into the garage but keep a close eye on them. Izzy good luck with keeping your dalias in the ground. Mine were bought recently from a clearance area of a GC so i had to take them out of the pot anyway. You'll have to report back on how your's do next summer, i may be tempted to leave mine in the ground then.

Yes, I am a bit lazy about some things...feel I will take chances with plants I haven't paid a lot for. Totally the opposite on expensive ones though! Time is also at a premium and I have to keep a balance between school, gym, family friends and garden...doesn't always work out though! Good luck, Tilly, with your dahlias. I'll report back next year!

The two Dahlias I mention above on the allotment have been killed back by the frost we have had this last week but after a whole day of rain yesterday (8am till 6pm) & a heavy shower at 5.30 am today, I can't get to the plants to lift them. They will have to stay where they are for now at least. Maybe when I have the time, & some dry weather for a few days, I will lift them. On the other hand they survived well last winter where they were, without anything extra being done to help protect them, I may well leave them there. I must remember to ask Gerry about them.

While we are talking about Dahlias, I looked into some gardens I normally pass on my way to the allotment to see how their plants have fared. Would you believe it, they are as happy as can be! It might still be midsummer as far as they are concerned. They still look magnificent! :-))

I would choose some Dahliah seeds as precaution,they are so easy I find as your can sow them later than annuals and you have a late display in summer

You are quite right, Chega. I sowed some later than I anticipated & had a few Dahlias flowering in late summer. Unfortunately they don't do very well for me as they seem to attract all the earwigs in town & they strip the flowers off so I don't usually grow them on my balcony even though they are one of my favourite plants.

Some of mine are black, but at the far side of the garden, they're fine. :-))

I was at Louise1's garden today, and hers are absolutely fine, flowering away like mad still.