Why are the leaves turning black?

3 Comments

1. 

   Key-Apricot-1059 2 years ago

   That’s what happens to dahlia after the first frost, which we had a few days ago. That’s it for them for this year. I would usually dig up the tubers and store them over winter because they really do not like cold weather. You could also mulch them really well but if it’s a hard winter they might not survive. Last year I didn’t do it and I have 0 dahlia this year. 😭

2. 

   AdAccomplished8239 2 years ago

   Yes, frost will do that for dahlias. It does them no harm. They just go dormant for the winter.

   I definitely would dig it up with a fork in another week or two. It should be a cluster of tubers, like a small bunch of very small bananas 🤣 when you dig it up. Just store it somewhere dry and cool for the winter. 

   It might not survive the winter outside, and it’s a pretty colour so it’d be a a pity to lose it. It seems to be growing in a lawn (?) Dahlias do much better in a weed free flower bed and you could transplant it to a bed or even a big container next spring. 

   Happy dahlia growing! They’re a great garden flower. 

3. 

   Salt-Cod-2849 2 years ago

   Probably the cold weather. I left my dahlias in the ground last year and they all came back this year. I do put bark mulch on the beds for winter though