How I’m Digging & Storing Our Dahlias! 🌸👩‍🌾🌿// Garden Answer 

I have watched tons of videos about digging dahlias. You certainly made this project understandable. I always dig my dahlias and some years they shrivel and some years they don't. Storing them in leaves has been the most successful for me.

Really enjoyed your video. I share you enthusiasm about gardening. I have found it really therapeutic since my Husband died recently. Keeps my mind occupied. Yours is the most clearly explained video on how to keep and store Dahlias that I’ve seen. Thanks. Ann from England.

Dahlias are so worth the extra work! They bloom endlessly from June to hard frost. Mine actually had a hard frost and are still blooming. I love the variety of beautiful colors to choose from.

Yes I’m a visual learner! Thank you for such a detailed explanation.

I know a dahlia- grower that marks their tubers with sharpies, says it works great

Hello from Australia, I bought 2 dahlias last summer, but never got around to putting them in the ground so they died, so i thought, and was very upset with myself, so i was cleaning the back yard last week and thought just get rid of them and started pulling them out from their pots and realised they have tubers, oh my god was i happy😁 so i left them in the pots, so now i know what to do with them, thank you so much 👍❤😊

Oh my lord, that’s a huge project! This is one time I’m NOT jealous of your garden. Wish you’d showed a “before” pic of the tubers to see how they developed, but kudos for the show & tell. You’re opening up a whole new gardening world for me. Based on your video (storage space needed and work required) I’d be willing to commit to ~10 tubers. I’ve never thought to grow them so Thank you so much! PS: your full energy will return post-pregnancy but the difficulty level you feel as you get more pregnant is good practice for when you get older. At 64 I’m gardening like I’m due in 6 weeks. 🤣

Most of us are hands on visual gardeners. Fantastic video! Thankyou!!!

OH NO! the tuber you are cutting at 7:03, has leaf Gall. Also, if a tuber gets sliced off at the end, its still good. Its just if the neck breaks seperating the tuber from the crown. Then the tuber is not going to grow anything and you can dispose. But i have snipped the ends off of tubers to see how the inside is, and if there is no rot and the flesh looks good, just let it cure for a day and its fine! It is still enough energy stored in the rest of the tuber that remains to feed next years growth. :)

Here I am in 2021 watching this again since I got dahlias this summer for the first time and now need a refresher for the info.

My goodness, you are dedicated - you’re pregnant, braving the wind and delivering a very thorough and informative video. Thank you so much, please take care and take time to rest.

Thank you for the clear,detailed explanation. i learned a lot, including that I should maintain my newspaper subscription!

I don't know if anyone has mentioned, though at the 6:00 mark of your informative video, that particular dahlia has developed a proliferation of new shoots and appears to be infected with leafy gall disease. Unfortunately, such tubers should be removed and disposed of, as this is a disease that can spread to other dahlias via pruners and other tools, possibly even by sucking insects. Years ago, when I had grown a sizable dahlia collection, the disease had been transmitted to most of my dahlias before I had even known what I was dealing with. I'm now again building up a collection and found one such diseased tuber this fall, to the middle of the hot compost pile it had gone! I very much enjoy your videos and plant suggestions !!

I enjoy watching professionals, who have learned or been trained correctly. By dahlias, see ya next spring. You are a credit to our industry.

So excited!!! Tomorrow Melbourne metro Australia can finally go plant shopping!! After nearly 4 months of strict lockdown and retail shopping shut. I have been saving my Garden Answer merch to wear when this day finally came!! Thanks for giving me something to look forward too each day with your videos 🌷😼🌹😼🌻

Laura you make EVERYTHING you do look so easy. I know you have a lot of experience. I know you have your videos edited to make it look earierish. And i know experience also brings organization and/or the knowledge on what you will need and what you need to do. Either way you still break it all down or as i say a lot dumb it down for people who have never gardened at all feel like they could accomplish it as well. One of the most important and the awesomest thing is you are honest about your fails. That helps us all . Makes you incredibly trustworthy and real. You and Aaron are genuine good people and you are doing wonderful things by showing us all what we too could achieve. God Bless you all. I pray that your baby girl takes it easy on her momma as much as possible.

🌻Coffee and watching Laura work her garden magic - priceless. ☕️🧡🎃

You are the best teacher. You make learning easy and fun. Thank you 🌹💖

“Who wouldn’t like that?” 😂 Only a garden lover would say that! 🌸💕

Thank you for the visual education. I read lots of gardening books that explain how to do things and I always fall asleep in the middle of their explanation. I need to watch it being done for it to sink in. I have a beautiful pot of dahlias on my porch that I want to keep for next year.

Dahlia tubers as a gift. “Who wouldn’t want that? “. I hear you

digging up my neighbors tubers ,needed some tips ,best wishes from the u.k. great helpful video

Wow! I wish mine came out that clean. 😊 love you detailed videos. I Come back to watch again. My first year growing dahlias. Burr 23 F is -5 C 🥶

Always giving that thumbs up because a video from you guys has literally never disappointed! Always inspiring and always bringing joy! Thank you 💕

Awesome video and thanks. I planted dahlias this year for the first time.

Laura. I’m like you. Visual learner. This is my third time watching this video. This time making notes. But as you mentioned at the end - it is so helpful to watch you go through the process first then do the recap. Had you gone through the list before I would not have picked up as quickly and just talking it out would definitely not have been enough! So thank you very much for taking us through this step by step. These are my most favorite videos you do.

Nice video. Before storing Tudor turn the Tudor upside down to make all the water is gone then packing them over the winter months .

"Who wouldn't like that?!" Got that right!

You're so funny, 17 is a nice day time high for us in the Canadian prairies 😊

Good morning, have a wonderful day, love from Melbourne Australia where it is 10 o’clock in the evening

Very interesting and informative. Thank you.

I recently started watching your videos and I’m always struck with how generous you and your husband are. Not just in your knowledge but your spirit. The joy of sharing tubers made your eyes light up. Simply amazing.

Thank you for another informative video! I have an idea for what you can do with some of your extra tubers after you divide them in the spring. A Garden Answer give away to one of your lucky followers! 🙋🏻‍♀️

About 10 min in I'm sure that dahlia was staring at me.

Thank you a great lesson take care

It amazes me that these weird little alien potatoes grow such stunning flowers! Is it just me or does that seem weird? I think this little piece of your property was just my favorite this year. SO beautiful!

Your videos are so fun and informative! From one visual learner to another.

“I’m a slow learner.” 😂 You are the best Laura! ❤️

Wow! A lot that I didn’t know about Dahlias. TFS!

Thanks for info Laura. I appreciate the time n effort it takes y'all to make these videos. I look forward to waking up to your videos. Have a blessed day 🌄☺

Oh my … that looks so cold 🥺 great video 🧤👒🐨🇦🇺🥰👌🌱❄️🍁

I grow my dahlias in pots then just throw the pots in my attached garage for the winter which doesn't freeze. Do the same with cannas and elephant ears.

So interesting and helpful.

I am exhausted just watching you! I wish I still had your energy! Great instructional video.

The wind storm looks like the one that came through Texas last week it almost broke a branch off my plant I had to bring them in & shelter it. I believe it was 60mph winds. Thanks for the information about tubers. Take care & stay safe please.

THANK YOU for walking us through the process using all the “visuals”! I think most gardeners are probably visual learners😉🌸❤️

Great!! It's amazing processing, the gardening are pacient 🙏🙏🙏

Best way to deal with tubers like this is simply don’t plant them! My #1 gardening rule: if they’re not hardy in my climate, they don’t belong in my garden. But those were some beautiful dahlias and if you’re really into all that work, have at it!

Thank you for this video. I just started planting Dahlias dinner plate Dahlias in the last few yes and it was by trial and error. We live where we need to dig ours every year and sometimes mine looked shriveled by the spring and when planted produced very small and undeveloped Dahlias. I now know what I've been doing wrong. Thank you so much.

Thank you for showing how to store dahlias. Great tips ✅

I just chuckled when you said I don’t even know where to get a newspaper😂

Laura, Thank you so much for informative video. So labor intensive that's why I shied away from tubers for years. A few years back I decided to buy some Dahlias from Home Depot and have had them in a raised bed and have never lifted them at the end of the season. I have been blessed every year with beautiful flowers , I guess I got lucky?

Thanks for the good tips! (-: Greetings from the Netherlands

Best, clearest Dahlia digging tutorial I've ever seen :) I would love to see your spring follow up! Kudos as per usual from North Idaho zone 6a 😊🌿💚🌻

I live in the PNW also (Seattle) and I am planning to do something that I have never done before. I have never pulled my dahlias and they have all come back yearly but they bloom so much later. My plan is to dig up my dahlias in February or March and and try to start them indoors for an earlier bloom if the ground is not too frozen. Wish me luck. Thanks for another great video Laura.

Now I remember why I’ve never planted tubers! 😂 maybe someday.....

Good information on digging & storing Dahlias! Seems like you just planted them now digging & storing! I might try Dahlias in future gardens! 😊👍🍂🍁🌿

That wind is fierce!!! Thanks for showing process. I’m a visual learner, also! 🍂

YOU ARE A WARRIOR!!! Being out in that weather. I think you should be inside warm and cozy, especially being pregnant, but that's just me. Take care of yourself sweetie.

I didn’t rinse my tubers when I dug them up. Most of the soil fell off when I pulled them. I hope they’ll be ok 🥺. They’re dry and already stored so 🤞🏾

I remember you saying something about you needing to dig the Elephant ears up y’all have by the chicken coop, will you be treating them and storing them the same way as these? I have a few elephant ear plants I am needing to do something with and don’t know what I need to do? If someone could help that would be greatly appreciated lol 😁

It is entirely possible to cut down the dahlias and then mulch with a very thick layer of straw over winter.

Saw a dollar store dahlia and took a chance.Its now a 5ft dinnerplate pink beauty.Im now in love with them.Thank you for this tutorial.

My garden is 1% of this size and it still takes me multiple days, hours each time, to do what you do. I’m exhausted just watching you AND you are pregnant. What is in your morning coffee? I need some! I took slips this past spring for my dahlias and created about 100 more, lost 2. Amazing! I can’t wait to see their mini tubers (pulling them up today) after a season of growing. I take the used coconut coir from hanging baskets to layer between them instead of vermiculite.

Thanks for this video. I really needed it. When you check on them once a month, do you pull EVERY individual bunch of tubers and inspect it, or just check the general moisture content of each container and watch for obvious stuff, like bad smell?? It seems like so much work to inspect every single tuber once a month and then repack them all.

Thank you for the details of storing dahlia tubers! Especially for how you trim them before storing and where the eye is located. After dividing, how quickly will the plant rebound and produce at it’s best?

Perfect timing - I should get a light frost on Saturday so I’ll dig on Sunday (zone 7b) Thanks for the visual😊

I needed this video! Thank you Laura!! 😘

I overwintered dahlias for the first time last year. Thank you for all the encouragement that gave me the courage to try all sorts of new things in my landscape! Dahlias are so beautiful, and I had always been intimidated by them...

Great content!! thank You!!

You can keep the tubers that have snapped off on the ends😊 Just recut the end (to make sure it’s not rotting) and then dip in cinnamon (anti-fungal). I actually cut the ends off all my tubers to check for rot and then dip in cinnamon.

I learned a lot today, thanks

Hi Laura! Great info. I would have just cut each one, I did not know about the eye. I'm always amazed at your knowledge!

Good morning! 🌻🐝

I have ONE dahlia to dig. LOL! But it's gorgeous, given to me from a sweet friend. I saved shredded paper in a box (from work) and am wondering if I can store the tubers in the shredded paper. ??

First video I watch every morning ! I love your content ! God bless you !

Do you have to dig them out and store them every year? What if you live in zone 9 where it's practically warm year-round? What if I grow them in a pot? Thanks a bunch and I love all your videos.

This is always a bittersweet time of year. It’s sad seeing the dahlias all killed back but the holidays are nearly here! Have you ever tried propagating dahlias by cutting? I think it would be interesting to see you pull one of the tubers out in late winter and plant it up in the plant room to get some nice cuttings. Theoretically every rooted cutting should produce a new tuber over the growing season!

I’m so happy and proud that I do the same as you ❤️

I label my tubers individually with a sharpie, works great

now I want dahlia too, I never had any dahlias

I love it! You are beyond helpful as I would have never even attempted Dahlias before. You said it when you said that you have to see things to learn! That’s me! 🤷‍♀️ Now that you have shown us how it really can be done and it’s not really hard I for one am looking forward to adding them next season!

Could you please share some information to save/store the gladiolus bulbs?

I know why I plant only annuals ! You are truly dedicated, god bless you for all the work and knowledge you share with us. Thank you 🙏

Thank you for all the valuable knowledge. Is the dividing process of these tubers the same for peonies?

Your knowledge is so impressive. I was wondering what the light requirements are for the bulbs you planted in containers that you said could be stored in a garage or shed?

Love your videos. Just wondering why you planted so many?

Well at least now I know why all my bulbs rotted. I was definitely doing it wrong. 🎃🍁🦃

Thanks Laura... maybe I missed it but why do you wet the vermiculite?!? 🤔

why do you have to moist the vermiculite? shouldn't it be completly dry? and if it's moist, won't it cause the tubers to rot?

Can you reuse the Vermiculite next year?

My favorite way to store tubers is to divide in the fall and wrap each tuber in shrink wrap, it takes a little time BUT I don’t loose half my tubers from drying out and it takes up very little storage space. Then I put each variety in a plastic grocery bag and put them in a box in the basement. This method is suggested by the dahlia society and it works!!!

I'm having trouble finding a place that would have the ideal temperature for these. My basement is not that cold and my attached garage would most likely get down to freezing.

Can you do a video when you check on them? I would really like to know what to look for. I know you said it, but a visual would be amazing

Hello Laura, Can I ask u about roses,? I have roses in pot. Do I have to Prune this time sortly ? We are in Co. We have nice fall. They are climbing roseses. Or just Spring time, need to prune? Posseble to keeping outside, vinter time with mulch In pot? Sorry about questions? Thank u very much all Your videos. 🍁🥀

Some Growers will add a little fungicide to the mix just in case a fungus would attack the bulbs.

Is it only zone # that tells you if you need to dig up & store or a list of plants that need it no mater what zone...I know this is a silly Q....but really never lift things out... Great video, thanks for sharing. sharing...nice to see the fall process inaction...

7b Philly I always leave em and they come back every year bigger and better.

Great Video- I live in California, Dahlias are fading but not totally done, how long do I leave them in the ground ?

Oh perfect! I planted Dahlias for the first time this year! Just a handful as an experiment, but they flourished beautifully here and produced many stunning blooms Laura! Soon they will need to be brought up and stored for winter here in the Southeast! So THANK YOU SO MUCH Laura!!! I'm very excited to do this right!!