Simple Way to Dig up Dahlias for Winter Storage

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Digging up dahlias for winter storage is easy.  Just grab your favorite shovel or garden fork and get started.

Not only does this post show you how to dig up dahlias but also how to store them for winter to enjoy next year!

We finally got our first frost and my dahlias are done.  Time for me to dig them up and pack them away for a cozy winter slumber in my unheated basement. 

Digging up your dahlias for winter storage is not hard at all. In areas with mild winters, you may be able to leave them in the ground.

When to dig up dahlia tubers (bulbs)

Depending on your growing season the time of year to do this task will vary. Here the first freeze is in early fall but for you, it may be late fall.

Many like to dig up the dahlia tubers before the first killing freeze but read on to understand why you may want to wait.

Note: this is a recommendation, not a rule, it is always a good idea to choose the best time that works for you and your circumstances.

The longer the tubers are in the ground curing, the more fully developed the tubers are and the better the likelihood of their keeping over the winter.

Along the Pacific coast or in equally rainy areas, you may wish to start digging before frost or before the rainy season. It is important for the tubers to dry out thoroughly before packing away for the winter.

Most gardeners should seriously consider letting their dahlia roots continue to grow and mature as long as possible.

Most areas have a light frost that ruins partially opened blooms and top foliage followed by a hard freeze that may be a few weeks later.

Dahlia tuber clumps will continue to grow and the roots further mature after light frosts.  They can also continue to grow after the first killing freeze (depending on how deep the freeze affects the soil.)

Just be sure to do it before the ground freezes for ease of digging.

Alternate way

If you want to dig up your dahlia plants before you have the first killing frost then that will work as well.  

First, cut the dahlia stems down to about 6 inches.  After cutting the dahlia stems let the tubers sit in the ground for 3 days or so.  

This will encourage the eyes to start to really pop so you can more readily see where to divide the dahlias before packing them up for storage. 

We have had a warm Fall and they were still blooming fully when one night the temps dropped below freezing and that signaled for me to get ready to dig them up. 

Here is the area at the base of this dahlia. 

I cut off the stems to about 6 inches then leave them in the ground for a few more days up to a solid week, to get those eyes popping! 

How to Dig up Dahlias

To dig up your Dahlia tubers start the shovel back a good 6 to 12 inches from the stem so you don’t cut into any tubers that may have grown out that far.

Some prefer a garden fork for this part. It is claimed it is easier to not damage as you dig with those types of tools.  

Dig down and lift gently getting a feel for how much heft it will take to lift the clump. 

If the Dahlias have a lot of healthy growth the bunch of tubers can get quite heavy.

Thankfully my soil is loose and crumbly and the clump pulls up fairly easily.  

So far I have done well with a shovel. 

Work around the clump a little at a time and keep loosening the bunch of tubers.

 If you have had a good year the number of tubers from what you planted last Spring should have increased well. 

It is better to start further back from the stem, like 12 inches back, so you can be sure you have got all the tubers.

Dislodge Excess Soil

Lift the clump of tubers by the main stem and shake gently to knock off as much of the soil as possible.

Note: Dahlia tubers are quite fragile right after digging.  Let them sit for a couple of hours after first digging before rinsing off the excess dirt and the tubers will be less likely to break off.

In the video, I show you how I spray off the soil with a garden hose. 

The Dahlias in the front garden had soil that was wetter and it clung to the tubers rather than dust off so using the hose was easier.

This is a rather small clump you get a better idea of larger ones in the video.

Divide Dahlia Tubers

Dividing the dahlia clumps into individual tubers is much easier in the Fall since the growth has not hardened.  With a sharp knife cut away any diseased or really old growth. 

If you spot any signs of gall then through the entire clump away, it is beyond saving!

I have read it is a good idea to cut away the mother tuber and store it separately as it can rot more easily and cause problems for the new ones. 

Look closely at each tuber and see if you can spot any eyes popping. This is where leaving them in the ground after a frost can help. The eyes are so much more apparent.

How to store them

Let the tubers dry off then layer them in wood shavings.  These are typically pine shavings you can get at a farm supply store.  A single bale can last you a very long time.

Note: Peat moss has been used in the past but there are more eco-friendly alternatives.

Also, some store dahlia tubers in vermiculite, which you can purchase at a garden supply or here.  I am going to try vermiculite this year as well. 

It is claimed that the coarser the vermiculite the better. I will let you know if storing my Dahlia tubers in vermiculite works better than the pine shavings.

Some like to divide the tubers and protect them in plastic wrap. 

Update: vermiculite was considerably more expensive and did not improve my success rate over the pine shavings. So I shall continue to use pine shavings.

I use various storage containers for my dahlias, cardboard boxes, some like milk crates, plastic bins, or even a brown paper bag.  Place tubers so they are not touching each other. 

Store the container of tubers in a cool dark place (that does not freeze) with good air circulation. Make sure to inspect tubers in late winter. Throw away any tubers that show signs of rotting.

By checking frequently you can prevent the rot from spreading to otherwise healthy tubers. Some growers say that if you store tubers so that they do not touch, then rot will not spread.

Whatever storage medium you choose remember to bring out your stored tubers in early Spring so you can start them in pots and take cuttings to root.

See the Video Here!

Special Note: This past winter I had mice in my basement and they ate many of my tubers. Be sure to keep yours in something that mice cannot get into.

Pull the tubers out of the basement about March or April and take cuttings, I show you how here.  It works great and is a fun way to get more Dahlias!

Happy Gardening!

I bought some of my Dahlias from Costco, Longfield Gardens was the supplier, they have a great Dahlia care article here.

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