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If the ground freezes in your region, both the dahlias and canna must be dug up and stored overwinter. Dahlias should be dug up as soon as the first hard frost has killed the top growth, otherwise, further severe frost can damage the tubers. Cut the dead stems back to about one inch or so from the tuber. Cut cleanly across any broken part of the tuber with a sharp knife and dust the cut surface with fine sulphur to help prevent the tuber from rotting. The best temperature to store dahlia tubers is between 35 and 55 degrees F. If you do not have a frost-proof root cellar, store them anywhere that is frost proof. In a warm, dry air environment, wrap them in newspaper or cover them with vermiculite, peat moss or sand to help prevent them from shriveling. Check them occassionally in the winter to make sure they are not rotting or shriveling too much.
When you dig up the Cannas (as soon as the leaves have died down), leave as much dirt on the roots as possible. Store them at 45 to 50 degrees F. if possibe. Cover the roots with fine dry soil or sand. In mild climatic regions, cannas may be left in the ground and the soil mulched with several inches of straw, leaves or other material, just in case of a hard frost.
