Vox, I'd lop off the tops at major damage level, wherever the stems are
broken or twisted.

Once the mass of top weight is removed, you may be able to settle things
without going to ground level.

Dahlias do root from stem cuttings, so if you want to multiply specific
colors/bloom forms, you might have an opportunity in this nasty bash from
Mother Nature.

I feel your pain-- some particularly nice tuberous begonias here got the
same treatment in a windstorm a few weeks back. I'm encouraging what
re-growth I can get just to feed the tubers so I can save them to try again
next year.

Sue
Western maine

"Vox Humana" wrote in message
...
| I planted some large dahlias this year using a support system that someone
| (here?) recommended. It consisted of tomato cages that had the lets cut
| off. You put the cage on the ground, large circle down, and fastened it
to
| the ground with the wire legs that you cut off.
|
| All went well for a while. The dahlia got to be about 6 feet tall and
were
| covered with flowers. Last nigh we had a moderate storm with some big
| gusts. One neighbor lost his Bradford pear (not that it was a shock).
The
| wind broke off my dahlias about two fee from the ground. They are all
bent
| over and pinched tightly on main stem. I doubt that they could be
uprighted
| and live? Any advice would be appreciated. At this point I assume that
the
| only thing I can do is cut them off at the ground and let them start over.
|
|