Dahlias Don't Dig Winter

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - If you dig dahlias, better dig them up.

Dahlias are dazzling, often with huge flowerheads that look like they were designed for a Hollywood movie. They bloom from summer well into fall, making a very strong statement in your garden when most other perennials have pooped out.

So, why doesn't everyone have dozens of dahlias? Partly because they originate in more tropical places so they're a bit too tender for our winter weather. Which means that if you leave them in the ground now, they'll probably freeze and die.

So, you can lift your dahlias each fall after we get a frost, and then replant them next spring. Sound tedious? A bit, but once you see how dazzling dahlias can be, you may change your mind.

Otherwise, if you want dahlias, be prepared to buy new ones every year - which is sort of silly since all you really need to save them is a shovel.

Get more info at Dahlias.net or RHS.org.