Hibernating dahlias: expert tips

Flower-rich dahlias make your garden shine in summer. In order for them to produce flowers for several years, however, they have to be skilfully overwintered.

Dahlias (Dahlia) belong to the easy-care plants in the garden in summer and reliably develop many of their bright flowers. However, the annual wintering of the dahlia is part of the proper handling of the subtropical plant in our latitudes. But do dahlias have to be overwintered all over Germany and how do you properly protect the plants from the cold? We will investigate these questions below.

Are dahlias hardy?

Dahlias are originally from Mexico and only became popular in the 18th century. Came to Europe through the seafarers in the 19th century. Because of their warm origin, they are very sensitive to frost and should not spend the winter outdoors. In mild regions of Germany such as the wine-growing climate of the Upper Rhine Graben, the attempt can be made to leave the tubers in the ground even in winter. In this case, however, make sure you have a neat top layer of sticks, leaves and straw. Wintering is associated with a high risk even there and digging up the tubers is still the most sensible method.

These products protect your plants from frost:

• Thermo garden fleece: Ideal for protecting your plants from cold and frost in winter. Can be cut to size individually.
• Burlap sack / blanket: Reliable protection against cold and frost made of 100% jute. Decorative natural fabric with a long lifespan.
• Coconut mat: Excellent heat storage made from natural fibers. Breathable, weatherproof and durable.

Hibernate dahlias: dig up and store

The best time to dig up the dahlia bulbs is already in autumn, right after the first night frost. To do this, you should first cut the remaining green of the dahlia down to a height of 10 cm above the ground and only then dig up the tubers. Be very careful when digging so as not to unnecessarily damage the roots. Ideally, get the tubers out of the ground on a dry day so that the soil can be more easily removed from the storage organs. A cool and dark place with good ventilation is always recommended for storage, but it must also be frost-free. Lay the tubers out on paper or sand so they don't touch each other directly. Stored in this way, you can put your tubers back in the ground the following spring.

Keep the following points in mind when hibernating dahlia bulbs:

• Excavation on a dry autumn day
• Cut the plant down to 10 cm
• Store in a cool, dark and airy place
• Laying out on paper or sand

Successfully overwintering dahlias in pots

In the case of dahlias that you cultivate in pots, it is completely sufficient to place them in a frost-free and cool place in autumn. No additional excavation is necessary in this case. Nevertheless, cut the plant about 10 cm above the ground, as you would when hibernating excavated tubers. At this point the dahlia sprouts again the following year.