Seattle Refined episode featuring The Dahlia Barn – To Dig (or not to) Dig your dahlias

Local news station, KOMO 4 News filmed an episode on their Seattle Refined series all about The Dahlia Barn.   Thank you KOMO 4 News!

As the season change from summer to fall, there are steps we can take to help our dahlias survive winter.  The first thing in fall dahlia care is to let them go through a freeze before you dig them up (or not) for the winter.

Why do I have to let them freeze first:

When you let your dahlias freeze in the fall, that tells the plant, “OK, it’s time to go dormant for the winter.” The stalks turn black, their skins are thickening up underground and they are preparing themselves for winter.  Dahlias dug too early have thin skins and typically do not survive the winter. They may look alright now, but usually by spring, they have shriveled to an unusable tuber.

Do I really have to dig up my dahlias?:

If you live in an area that does not have harsh, freezing winters you can just mulch your dahlias in the fall with a thick layer of grass clippings/leaves.  Wait until it freezes and the stalks turn black, then cut them down to ground level and mulch with grass clippings/leaves.  We do always recommend digging and dividing every couple of years.  Dahlias left in the ground longer, will create such a massive clump underground that will produce many stems that are weak and unproductive.  Dig and divide every couple years at least to keep your dahlias coming back strong.

If you HAVE had a freeze:

Wait until your dahlia foliage looks like this before digging in the fall

Wait at least 1-2 weeks after the freeze, before you dig your dahlias.  Do not cut the stalks down, that only opens up the hollow stem for water to collect and freeze and re-freeze possibly damaging your tubers.  It’s better to leave the stalk sealed with the stem so that doesn’t happen.

If you HAVE NOT had a freeze:

Let Mother Nature do her work and let your dahlias freeze in the garden.  Don’t cut them down, leave them intact and wait for the freeze.  Wait at least one week after a freeze to dig your dahlias.  If you haven’t had a freeze by mid November, you’re safe to dig at that time.

Do I rinse off the tubers?:

We always advise to NOT RINSE your tubers with a spray hose, just tap the dirt off.  Rinsing makes it incredibly difficult to get them dry enough for winter storage, which is a key factor in getting your dahlias to survive winter storage.  If they are wet, they will rot !  And there is no saving a rotten tuber.

Winter Dahlia Storage

If you do dig your dahlias, the most important tips are:

1. Once dug up, make sure they never freeze wherever they are stored.  An attached garage is usually pretty safe.  Unheated outbuildings typically will freeze and wouldn’t be a good choice for storage.

2. Make sure they are VERY dry before they go into storage.

 Storage options:

1. Store in clump form or divided in a cardboard box lined with newspaper, with the dahlias buried in peat moss., this will give them added protection in storage.  Use the cardboard box lined with newspaper, add a layer of peat moss, add a layer of dahlias, another layer of peat moss, etc until the box is full.  This gives you an added layer of protection from freezing and keeps humidity higher.

Keep the temperature at 40-50 degrees at all times during winter storage. The humidity should be kept medium-high to keep tubers from drying and shriveling. Check your tubers monthly during winter storage.  See our ‘Dahlia Care’ page for more detailed information.

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