Overwintering dahlias: expert tips

Blooming dahlias will brighten up your garden in summer. In order for them to flower for several years, however, they must be skilfully overwintered.

dahlias (dahlias) are among the easy-care plants in the garden in summer and reliably produce many of their bright flowers. Proper handling of the subtropical plant in our latitudes also includes overwintering the dahlia every year. But do dahlias have to be overwintered all over Germany and how do you properly protect the plants from the cold? We address these questions below.

Are dahlias hardy?

Dahlias are originally from Mexico and only became popular in the 18th century. It was brought to Europe by seafarers in the 19th century. Due to their warm origin, they are therefore very sensitive to frost and should not spend the winter outdoors. In mild regions of Germany, such as in the wine-growing climate of the Upper Rhine Graben, an attempt can be made to leave the tubers in the ground in winter too. In this case, however, make sure that there is a proper top layer of brushwood, leaves and straw. Even there, hibernation is associated with a high risk and digging up the tubers is still the most sensible method.

These products protect your plants from frost:

• Thermal garden fleece: Optimal to protect your plants from cold and frost in winter. Can be cut individually.
• Jute sack/blanket: Reliable protection against cold and frost made from 100% jute. Decorative natural fabric with a long service life.
• coconut mat: Excellent thermal retention made of natural fiber. Breathable, weather-resistant and durable.

Overwintering dahlias: dig up and store

The best time to dig up the dahlia bulbs is 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 out the tubers. Be very careful when digging up so as not to damage the roots unnecessarily. Ideally, you'll 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 plant your tubers again the following spring.

When overwintering dahlia tubers, keep the following points in mind:

• Digging up 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 wintering dahlias in pots

For dahlias that you cultivate in pots, it is sufficient to put them in a frost-free and cool place in autumn. Additional excavation is not necessary in this case. Nevertheless, cut the plant about 10 cm above the ground, as when overwintering dug up tubers. At this point, the dahlia will sprout again in the following year.