I have just lifted three very large and very 'matted' together clumps of dahlias. These would have been planted by previous owner of home so have been in the ground for some years. They flower profusely but the growth is such that they cover everything else that dares get in their way. I know how to separate them normally, but these ones are just a huge matted mess. Lots of died down stalks visible but impossible to separate. Cutting with a sharp knife seems to be only option but will this harm them, there is just no way I am going to be able to get a separate clump.
Next problem (sort of) - I planted three japanese anenomes two years ago and they are growing well and the flower show is just impressive. However each parent plant has been sending out lots of runners, not like strawberrys (pity) but underground. The new plantlets are coming up all over the place and even up in the middle of the kangaroo paw etc. I have pulled these new ones up but still more appear. Any solutions please?

Suggest you leave the dahlias until Spring and the old dying stuff will have shrunk down to nothing, more or less and can be pulled apart more easily.
Just keep them off the ground dry and aired then you can plant anything that looks as though it will grow into new plants for you.

Can't suggest anything for anenomes accept that you replant what you want and give your neighbours the rest.

Hope your right about the dahlias, as they are all very firm and in good stead, there were only two soft mushy tubers right at the bottom and they have been removed. have got the rest of them up on a rack to dry off. As for the anenomes, they just keep coming up and the neighbors and friends have been given more than they need hehe. Will just have to keep culling them for now.

I used to grow dahlias and one year didn't lift them for storage and some bug that lives in or on the ground ate most of them - likely slater bugs. You may be able to store them in untreated sawdust or similar but make sure they have air around them and don't get wet. Your local garden centre may offer some advice too.

There is no problem re storing them - just the huge matted mess of tubers which cannot be prised apart. Nor is there any insect damage etc. Just wondering if cutting the mass will cause harm.

You can cut the clumps apart provided you leave a part of the stem where the tuber joins the clump.One way to prise them apart is using two garden forks back to back.

Post deleted at 08 May 2012 8:00pm by bennyh

Thank you BennyH, I thought it may be something like that re having stalk attached..as for prising apart - might be easier to clean and stain them and put them in the garden as a sculpture similar to that done with tree roots and drift wood!