[wilj1]

My Dahlias are still in flower and have not been frosted yet. I have left them in the ground for last 5 years and they always come back. Is it ok to cut them down now and cover them with manure or should I wait for a frost before cutting down

[Kristen]

You can cut them down - only reason to leave them is if they are still putting on a good show.  Mine normally flower until the frost, but its been so wet they look totally bedraggle, so I've dug them up for Winter storage already.

[sunshineband]

If they look like the need a rest then put them to bed for the winter. If a thick manure mulch has meant they overwinter where you are, then go for it. Here the likelihood of flooding means this is not such a great idea, so I dig them up.

Mine are now resting in the cold greenhouse upside down, as they were battered by high winds and soaking wet.