When I moved into my current abode I 'inherited' lots of lovely dahlias. Not knowing any better, I've always just left them be over winter, just cut them down to the ground when thye die off in late autumn, and they come up fine every spring when they get a does of blood fish and bonemeal along with the rest of the border - but I guess we are fairly well south and so maybe they have an easier time of it here?

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Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance