Dahlias are one of the showiest flowers in the garden. But when cold weather arrives, new dahlia growers may wonder whether to dig them up or leave them in the ground.
Should you dig up your dahlias?
Dahlias should be dug up and stored indoors for the winter before the first frost arrives. Those living in milder climates can leave them in the ground, but only with a thick layer of mulch for protection.
When soil temperatures drop too low, tubers can split from freezing or rot in overly wet conditions. Lifting and dividing the tubers can encourage better blooms and prevent overcrowding.
When should you dig up dahlias?
Lift your dahlias once the leaves have started to blacken. They don't usually survive British winters, so they need safety storing for next year.
Allowing the leaves to die back naturally helps the plant transfer energy from the foliage to the tubers, strengthening them for the next growing season. Cut the stems down to about four to six inches above the soil. Compost the remaining tops and clear away any debris around the base.
How to dig up dahlias
To dig up the tubers, use a garden fork or spade to gently loosen the soil about a foot away from the stem.
Work carefully around the clump to avoid piercing the tubers. Once the soil is loosened, lift the clump by the remaining stem and gently shake off excess dirt. Some gardeners prefer to rinse or dunk the tubers in water to remove soil, while others skip washing to reduce the chance of rot. You can experiment with both methods to see which works best for your storage conditions.
After digging, allow the tubers to dry in a warm, well-ventilated area for several days to a week. This curing period helps small wounds heal and toughens the skin for winter storage. Avoid drying them in direct sunlight or on concrete, which can cause them to dry out too quickly.
Once dry, you can store the tubers in cardboard boxes, paper bags, or wooden crates filled with slightly damp peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings. Label each variety so you can easily identify them next spring.
Store the packed tubers in a cool, dark, frost-free place during the winter. If they begin to shrivel, mist to add moisture, and if any start to rot, remove them immediately to protect the rest.
In spring, once the danger of frost has passed, you can replant your dahlias and enjoy another season of spectacular blooms. In the spring, you can also divide your tubers before replanting for more plants, as long as each division has an eye.
17 best gardening tools to buy now including spades, trowels and rakes
Give your garden plants some love this summer with this useful multi-tool. Finished in titanium with brass fixings, this tool features six different functions including secateurs, a root remover, knife, saw, bottle opener and an easy weeding utensil.
Protect your knees when gardening with this practical green kneeler and seat. It has been made with steel tubes and comfortable polypropylene foam so you can garden comfortably. There's also a small pouch on the side, making it easy to pop your tools in as you work.
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Crafted from wood and stainless steel, this lovely garden tool set is just what every gardener needs. The leather hooks make it easy to hang up in a shed, while the trowel has been marked in centimetres and inches to make planting easier than ever.
Walsall 90L Polypropylene Multipurpose Wheelbarrow
Every garden needs a wheelbarrow. In a classic green, this lightweight style from Argos is ideal for gardening, DIY work and equestrian uses.
With a longer handle to ease back strain, this stainless digging spade has been created for all digging jobs. As well as this, the hardened steel blade is rust-resistant and will hold its edge without regular sharpening. Perfect for every avid gardener.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with this terracotta watering can. Designed by Shane Schneck, it boasts a no-spill lip and a shape that keeps water weight at its base.
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When life gives you lemons...buy a stylish kneeler pillow. With a generous size and soft foam filling, you can be sure to tackle those weeds comfortably without any pain.
Looking for some summer seeds? This pack includes thyme, mixed herbs, oregano and summer savoury, too. Ideal to spruce up a tired-looking lawn patch.
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You'll find eight handy tools in this set, including pruning shears, a hand trowel, transplanter, weeder, cultivator, hand rake, gardening gloves and a tote bag. At just £40, it's a real steal buy.
Trim your hedge just as you like with these 66cm topiary shears. Ideal for trimming and shaping, they have narrow pointed blades, rubber shock absorbers and a long length ergonomic design.
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Providing high performance cutting with a clean finish, this grass trimmer from Bosch has an easy edging function which enables quick changes from trimming to edging. Ideal for reaching those tricker spots with ease.
Sweep up leaves and fallen debris with this practical wooden rake from Garden Trading. Crafted from Beech, the strong wooden handle offers support, while the prongs allow for effective raking.
Presented in a beautiful box, this set includes a trowel and secateurs. Featuring artwork from the RHS Lindley Library, they're both a stylish and practical addition to any garden.
This electric lawnmower helps you to cut through long grass with ease, thanks to its innovative inset grass combs and lightweight design.
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Charlyne Mattox is the Food and Crafts director with over 20 years recipe development, recipe editing, and crafting experience. Prior to starting at Country Living in 2014, she worked in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids before attending cooking school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She was nominated for a James Beard media award while a senior editor at Real Simple magazine and authored a cookbook Cooking with Seeds.
When not in the kitchen she loves to garden, focusing on growing flowers and kitchen herbs (of course), watering her 25 house plants, and knitting scarfs or hats she will never be able to wear in the always hot and steamy Alabama.
