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'Lolipop'
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It is generally advised to dig and store dahlias during the winter in cold and wet climates. From what I've heard from gardeners here, not many do that and they say their dahlias return. I'm digging them up anyway because, for one thing, I'm always unhappy with where I place them and I've yet to find a satisfying location.
We had our first frost last week and the dahlias looked like this -
This is the procedure I use -
I cut the foliage down to the ground. I use a pitchfork to gently loosen the soil and rock it back and forth. I then lift the clump out of the ground and wash away the soil with a strong spray from my hose nozzle.
I wait until next spring to divide the tubers but I do go ahead and cut away the ones that have rotting or look disfigured.
I wrap the tubers in a paper bag and place it in a box. Label them if you don't want to loose the name.
Before putting them in the box, I spread a thin layer of wood chips on the bottom.
I place additional wood chips over the top. You can use a variety of materials for this (shredded paper, peat moss, vermiculite, etc.), any material that will stay damp.
Store them in a cool pace that doesn't freeze (40-50 degrees is good). Place them on a shelf or a bench and not on a concrete floor where moisture develops. Check them once every month to see that the tubers are not drying out.
Do you dig your dahlias? What methods do you use?
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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