Can You Cut Back Dahlias Now? What To Do For Better Blooms

Dahlias are a popular flower, suitable for both flower beds and containers. The plants are characterized by large, full blooms, and they can be grown as annuals or perennials, depending on your climate. Hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11, show-stopping dahlias for your garden come in many varieties that will bloom from midsummer into fall when properly cared for. Most gardeners will tell you, growing dahlias can be quite rewarding, but they do take a bit of maintenance and upkeep to stay vibrant and healthy. 

For example, regularly deadheading spent flowers is a great dahlia growing technique that will give you more beauty, encourage more blooms, and keep your plant looking tidy in the garden. Outside of regularly removing dead blooms, cutting back perennial dahlias after the first hard frost is key to their winter survival. So, can you cut back dahlias right now, in fall before the first frost? Yes, as long as the plant is done blooming. Neglecting to deadhead your dahlias will result in smaller, less impressive blooms, while neglecting to cut them back before winter will likely result in them not surviving, so if you want your flower beds to continue bursting with colorful, lush blooms, the cutting back process is important.

After the first hard frost, your dahlias should turn brown and look completely dead with shriveled up foliage. Don't fret — this may look daunting (and a little creepy) but this is the perfect time to cut back the plant. To do so, cut the stems all the way down to ground level with a pair of shears or sharp garden scissors. While dahlias are considered perennial in zones 8 and higher, they aren't frost resistant, and the underground tubers will need some added protection. 

Some gardeners choose to remove the tubes and roots and bring them indoors for the winter. Others have success just by simply covering the ground with a layer of mulch, compost, or dead leaves for added warmth. That said, if this is your first winter with dahlias, bringing the tubers indoors is the more reliable way to protect your dahlias from the cold winter weather. If the first frost in your area doesn't come until later in the fall or winter but your dahlia flowers are clearly done for the season, you can go ahead and cut them back before the frost hits.