When to dig up dahlias?

Unfortunately, there will come a time when dahlias no longer bloom as beautifully as they do in summer. By winter, it will be time to lift the dahlia tubers from the ground. In this blog, we will tell you when the time has come, how to do it, and how to keep the tubers safe through the winter. This way, you can enjoy beautiful dahlias again next year.

 

Why lift and overwinter dahlias?

Lifting dahlias from the ground is also known as lifting. You do this when the first night frost has affected the plant and the stems have turned black or limp. Dahlias originally come from warm Mexico and are not hardy in winter. By digging them up in time and storing them frost-free, you ensure that the energy the plant has built up this season is not lost.

The good thing? Next year you can simply plant the same tubers again and enjoy a full, blooming plant once more!

 

What do you need to lift dahlias?

Lifting dahlias is not difficult. Basically, you do not need many tools:

• A shovel or spade to carefully loosen the tubers
• Pruning shears to cut the stems short
• A bucket or container to temporarily place the tubers in
• Newspapers or dry sand to wrap the tubers in for storage
• A frost-free storage place, such as a shed, cellar, or garage

 

When and how should you lift dahlias?

The right time to lift your dahlias is often after the first night frost. You can usually recognize it by the stems! They turn black and limp, and the plant looks a bit battered. That is an important sign. Do not wait too long after that, because the longer the tubers remain in frozen soil, the greater the chance of damage.

In the Netherlands, the first night frost usually occurs somewhere between October and November, but this varies from year to year and by region. Keep an eye on the weather forecast as soon as the nighttime temperatures start heading towards zero.

 

Step by step: how to lift dahlias

• Step 1: Cut the stems back to about ten centimeters above the ground
• Step 2: Dig around the plant generously with a shovel or spade
• Step 3: Carefully lift the tuber clump and shake off the soil
• Step 4: Let the tubers dry upside down in a well-ventilated place for 2 days
• Step 5: Wrap the tubers in newspaper and prepare them for storage 

 

How do you store dahlia tubers?

To be able to enjoy dahlias again next year, it is important to store the lifted tubers properly. The best place for this is a frost-free, dark, and dry space. What can you think of? A shed, cellar, or garage where the temperature remains between five and ten degrees is perfect.

Too cold and the tubers will freeze, too warm and they will sprout or rot. Place them in a box or container with dry sand, peat moss, or newspaper around them, so they do not dry out and do not lie against each other.

 

Can you leave dahlias in the ground?

Technically, you can, but we almost never recommend it in the Netherlands. Dahlias are not hardy in winter and cannot survive a severe frost period in the ground. The tubers freeze, rot away, and cannot be used again the following spring. If you want to be sure that you can enjoy the same plant again next year, lifting is the safest choice.

 

More dahlias in the garden?

Choose for topping Topping may be the easiest way to get more out of your dahlias. One small intervention at the beginning of the season, and your plant branches out instead of growing straight up. The result is a full dahlia that continues to bloom throughout the entire summer. We recently wrote an extensive blog about topping dahlias.

 

The risk of keeping dahlias in the ground

The biggest risk is freezing. As soon as the ground freezes deep enough, the tubers become damaged. They freeze and break from the inside, which you only notice in the spring when nothing sprouts.

A second risk is rot. Wet, cold soil in combination with the dead stems attracts mold. Tubers that survive the frost can still rot before spring arrives.

 

When do you plant dahlias again?

As soon as the chance of night frost has passed and the ground has warmed up sufficiently, it is time to plant your dahlias again. In the Netherlands, this is usually from mid-April to mid-May, depending on the weather. If you have stored the tubers well over the winter, you can simply put them back in the ground! We recently wrote a blog about the ideal period for planting dahlias.

 

Still need new dahlias?

Choose quality Did you accidentally leave the dahlias in your garden for too long, or did the tubers not make it through the winter properly after all? No worries, at Bulbs4You you will find a wide assortment of more than 250 dahlia varieties, directly selected from growers in the Bollenstreek.

You can easily order them online and we will deliver them neatly to your home, ready to plant as soon as the ground has warmed up again.