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Overwintering Tender Bulbs 

By stacy ling

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Do you want to save your tender bulbs for the next growing season? Learn how to overwinter them with these simple tips.

Floral Frame

Supplies Needed – Garden Fork – Pruners or Loppers – Plant tags – Crates, cardboard boxes and/or brown paper bags – Sphagnum Peat – Garden Hose – Garden Spray Nozzle

What to Do Before the First Frost Before the first frost, tag and label plants. This is particularly important if you have several different varieties mixed together in a border.

Dig Up After the First Frost After the first frost has blackened the foliage, cut all but about 4-6 inches of top growth (will depend on plant size). It will be easier to gently pull them out of the ground if you have some stem to grab onto.

Dry Tender Plants Before Storing Allow tubers, rhizomes, or bulbs to dry in a container for a few days in a frost-free location, out of direct sunlight. Do not layer too many on top of each other to avoid them damaging one another. Keep an eye on them

Pack and Store for the Winter Label your containers for each plant variety. Pack similar bulbs together in a container like a cardboard box or paper grocery bags. Use spagnum peat moss around bulbs and tubers to keep them from damaging each other.

Check on Them While in Storage Check tubers periodically through winter for rotting and drying out. If bulbs or tubers appear shriveled, mist them lightly with water. If any  start to rot, trim the rotted portion of the clump so it won’t spread. Use care when handling them because they are fragile.

Plant Tender Bulbs in Spring When warm weather arrives, plant overwintered tubers and bulbs to start growing after all danger of frost has passed.

Floral Separator
Floral Separator

Follow along to learn more about overwintering dahlias and other tender bulbs.

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Floral Separator

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