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Mulching dahlias etc for winter

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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think anything you have to hand should be fine - bark, manure, used earth.
  • Thank you all for your advice, it has been very helpful and pointed me in the right direction. 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Leave some in,you can put bark chippings or straw over the crowns,I use my own compost,then I cover that with a wicker hanging basket just to keep it in place. We're also on clay, although 1O years improved. Sometimes wet rots them,and slugs scoff the tubers. Never heard of mulching before frost. Monty always says after frost had blackened the tops. Do you have anywhere you could store some? 
  • Leave some in,you can put bark chippings or straw over the crowns,I use my own compost,then I cover that with a wicker hanging basket just to keep it in place. We're also on clay, although 1O years improved. Sometimes wet rots them,and slugs scoff the tubers. Never heard of mulching before frost. Monty always says after frost had blackened the tops. Do you have anywhere you could store some? 
  • Oops, not sure what happened above!

    When you say when the frost has blackened the tops, do you mean when the foliage turns black?  Mine was going black which is why I cut them back, maybe I was too early?

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I don't think you were too early. They should be fine so long as your soil is not very wet and it sounds like a good situation. Wet, heavy clay is a real problem  but you don't have that!
  • Posy said:
    I don't think you were too early. They should be fine so long as your soil is not very wet and it sounds like a good situation. Wet, heavy clay is a real problem  but you don't have that!
    I did have an olive tree on the same sloping bank which did very well so I’m hoping the dahlias will do as well!!🤞🤞
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yes,if they're going black no problems . I've taken a few in because I needed the pots. Hubby grew them from a free packet of seeds in March,they have really good tubers. They are going in a box of straw in the garage,that's  trial run.
  • Sorry it’s me again! I managed to get to get some farmyard manure, I have already cut them down but haven't had a chance to mulch them today as it hasn’t stopped raining. Is this okay, leaving them a few days between cutting and mulching?  The saving grace is we haven't had any frost. Thanks again. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Yes, it's fine. The mulch is to protect against cold and we haven't had any yet - at least, not as far as I know. You can mulch any time before the  frost but doing it while the soil is still warm is a good idea.
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