- 7 - 
Trimming Root Clumps 
Properly trimmed root clumps are not infested. After root 
clumps have been harvested, the practice of "burning dead stalks 
and other infested debris remaining in the garden will reduce the 
number of borers that otherwise would become egg-laying moths dur- 
ing the following spring. In preparing root clumps for winter 
storage, it is considered good practice to remove the stalk near 
the crown of the plant and below the pith cavity of the stem. 
This leaves the roots free of borers, as larvae of the European 
corn borer have not been found to excavate below the crown. Since 
it is also standard practice among commercial growers to cut off 
dahlia stalks at the crown, there is no reason to assume that 
borers will be present in newly purchased root clumps. 
