Dahlia Winter Care

Fall has arrived...

We had a beautiful and mild summer this year in the Northwest. After such a gorgeous summer, fall arrived abruptly on the night of September 30, 2019 giving us an early frost. We continued to deal with heavy rain, wind, and cool temperatures, leaving us no option other than to close our fields and end our cut flower season earlier than anticipated. We continued to have a few light frosts in early October. Mother Nature continues to show us she is in control. Hopefully, you experienced a glorious dahlia season! If you experienced a lack of blooms this season, the main reason is a lack of deep watering.

November will be here soon and it is time to think about preparing your dahlias for the winter! Time to tuck your dahlia babies in for a safe and secure winter.

Thank you to everyone that attended and enjoyed our

Annual Dahlia Festival

Mark your calendar for 2020 Festival

August 29th, 30th & 31st and September 5th, 6th, & 7th

(Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, 10 am to 6 pm)

Photo Contest Winners!

2020 Spring Catalog will arrive in January!

Watch your mailboxes!

What to do next with your Dahlias!

After months of flowers and enjoying the beautiful dahlias, the blooming season is coming to an end. Now will be the time to decide whether you should dig up and store your dahlia tubers or leave them in the ground for the winter. If you live in a milder climate where freezing of the dahlia tubers won't occur, then you have the option of leaving them in. Just remember they are a tuber with a thin skin, and they are not as hardy as a bulb.

Do not dig your dahlias too early. We recommend waiting to dig your dahlias until two weeks after a killing frost. If you have not had a frost by November 15, then it is safe to dig at that time. The tubers need time to harden off and prepare for winter storage. If you dig too early they will be "green" and will not store properly and may not survive. Click here for more information.

If you have the option of leaving them in, then we recommend cutting the stalks down to ground level or just below the ground, where the stalk is solid. You do not want to leave a hollow stock open to fill with water over the winter, which may lead to the rotting of your tubers. To prevent this, lay plastic over the ground where the dahlias are planted and then add a "blanket of warmth" such as; straw, hay, dirt, leaves, mulch, or any material that will help protect them from the cold. The blanket will help add security for leaving your dahlias in the ground. Just remember leaving dahlias in the ground over the winter is never a guarantee.

Dividing Dahlias

Dahlias can be divided in the fall or spring. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you choose to dig and divide in the fall, you must store them after dividing them, they may not be replanted at this time. They will divide/cut like a potato and the eyes are only visible for about 48 hours after digging them before going dormant for the winter. If you wait to divide until spring bring your boxes of dahlias into a warmer room or area for about a week to allow the eyes to sprout and become more visible. However, they are harder to divide and will cut more like leather at this time. You can also dig your dahlias that are starting to show through the ground in the spring, divide them, let their cuts heal overnight, and then plant them back in the ground.