Over Wintering Dahlias
(Last Updated October 18, 2007)

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At this time of year we receive
many questions about digging, dividing and storing dahlia tubers. Most of
these inquiries are variations of the two basic questions stated below.
Hopefully, our answers will be useful to you. Question #1: Do I have
to dig up my dahlias? Dahlia tubers grow very
close to the surface and will be lost if they freeze. So, unless you live in
an almost freeze proof area you will lose them if you don't over winter them
in a protected environment. However, if you have only a
few dahlias you may find that the cost of replacements is so reasonable that
you may not want to bother. With dahlias costing only $2, $3 or $4 each you
really don't have to feel guilty if you just grow your dahlias for enjoyment,
and then replace them or try new and different varieties the following year. Question #2: If I want
to give it a try, how do I go about it? Digging, dividing and storing
dahlia tubers is a process that varies greatly from
grower to grower. If you want to know how some of us do it in * *
* * * In addition, there are
three internet articles on digging, dividing and/or storing dahlia tubers
that I would like to recommend to you. The web site of the
American Dahlia Society contains an excellent article titled "DIGGING, DIVIDING, AND STORING TUBERS". The author, Alan Fisher, is an expert dahlia grower from One of the better personal web
pages on dahlia care is by Wayne Holland, a dahlia grower and breeder from There is also something a
bit different in storing dahlias. It is called the (Bernie) "Mandella" or "Saran Wrap" storage method,
and it is a technique for reducing storage losses by storing dahlia tubers
wrapped in plastic food wrap. The "No Fuss: Store Your Tubers in Plastic Wrap" article describing this method was published in the
September 2001 Quarterly Bulletin of the American Dahlia Society. and an online version of this article is available on the
website of the Finally, right out of the
September 2006 Bulletin of the American Dahlia Society we have an article
called “Tuber Storage
For The Small Grower”. In this article Heather Drope
of Don McAllister |