Save Your Dahlia Tubers: The Ultimate Overwintering Guide

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Did you know you can save your dahlias for next year? This guide reveals the secrets to successfully overwintering dahlia tubers, even in cold climates.

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

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

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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.

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Dry Tender Plants Before Storing Allow dahlia tubers 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

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

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Check on Them While in Storage Check tubers periodically through winter for rotting and drying out. If 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.

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

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Follow along to learn more about overwintering dahlias.

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