Anyone in the South East of England successfully leave Dahlias in the ground over winter?

[TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers]

Just that really. I've grown some amazing Dahlias this year, from bulb. Better than I expected and better than previous years. All in pot atm. I've been trying to only buy perennials for some years now, and anything started off in a pot, planted out to fill the huge borders. I'm learning as I go and having to move some stuff each year to a better position, and giving up on those that never seem to do ok no matter where I put them (Delphiniums, Lupins eg). I'm doing this because the space I have to fill is enormous and this seems like the best way to save money, rather than annuals and also, frankly, to save myself time and effort each year.
I'd love to plant the Dahlias out in the beds and leave them in if possible but I don't want to lose them all in the first year. Anyone in the South East (North Kent Coast to be precise) have success in leaving them in (and maybe just mulching over winter), or am I on a hiding to nothing if I go ahead?

My friend in the midlands does with a dahlia she inherited from her grandfather. Comes back every year 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sounds promising, we're a lot further south, but also coastal so that might be a consideration. Just don't want to lose them all if I risk it. Might do half and half.
Do they get any more resilient as time goes on, does anyone know?

I grew some from seed last year and just left them and they have come up again this year. Oxfordshire/Berkshire border

Last winter here was milder than usual but Im sure it was still colder than a coastal area

I’ve done it successfully. I’m in scotland. Admittedly a bit hit and miss, but more hit than miss.

Am in the East of England and managed (accidentally) to grow tomatoes as a perennial for a few years without really trying.

So I think your dahlias are in with a shout.

Wow, I’m going to try this.

I haven’t bought or grown dahlias for a few years for this very reason.

I’m in Berkshire and sometimes leave them in. Keep some and lose some, but we are on clay which won’t help.

Yes, I'm in the south east and ours are on their third year and grown from seed. They are looking really good this year. They seem to be getting bigger and better every year.

Right, that’s it, I’m going for it!
(Cue record breaking low temperatures in the SE - sorry everyone 😁).

I'm in Cornwall but have had dahlias in a raised bed for three years. I cut them right back in autumn and load up with a thick mulch.

Although we in the mild SW we are in a frost hollow, I was also worried about all the rain we have had and thought they might have rotted away. They have sprouted well but no sign of any flowers yet.

What do you mulch with and how thick does it need to be?

East Anglia here and I do absolutely nothing to my dahlias over Winter. Once they have died back I cut them right down and then leave them. Still get glorious flowers every year.

@Justbetweenus

Whatever is the cheapest available option really.

I've used woodchip, when we had a lot of trees down, I keep old compost from pots, and any other compost that I have. You could probably use grass clippings if you have them. It probably ends up around two inches thick.

Your soil will have a big affect. We are on clay and it just gets too wet and the bulbs rot.

It's the slugs that do for my dahlias. Yes they overwinter, but as soon as they poke those delicious-looking shoots above the ground, the slugs have them.

I live in Northern Ireland. Last year I took a chance on my dahlias and left them in the ground. (clay). after the first frost blackened the leaves. I cut them back to just above ground level and just poured a heap of shop bought compost over the the top of them. a good thick 3 or 4 inches. to my amazement they all came back 3 times as big as they were last year. I'm doing the same again this year so fingers crossed🤞

Have a look at thegardenerben on Instagram or YouTube, drop him a message. Possibly a bit late now but I'm certain with the amount he has that they stay in the ground.

Although he's technically slightly south/south west rather than east.

Funnily enough, I was chatting to somebody about this quite recently. I love dahlias, but have never grown them because I know I'd never get round to digging them up/replanting at the right time. My friend told me she leaves them in the ground permanently and has done for years! She's in Gloucestershire.

Once so far. Bark was covering ground on top.

hi i am a gardener by profession and always leave mine in. The wet kill’s them not the cold usually. I garden on free draining soil but if you have heavy clay I would not leave them in. Love dahlias

I dug most of mine up last year and lost the lot! (To mice)

The three that stayed in the ground did just fine…

My Mother used to leave them and they were fine. However she lived a stone's throw from the beach (Bournemouth) and the soil was extremely light and sandy.

I do. I live in Surrey on clay soil. They come up bigger and better each year ..