Putting pelargoniums to bed for winter, dividing dahlia tubers . Originally published October 31, 2013 at 5:39 am Updated October 31, 2013 at 7:46 am . Share story. By .

Q. I have trouble storing my dahlia tubers over winter. They seem to dry rot and I lose more than half. I have tried dry beach sand, saw dust, wrapping in newspapers and also misting them during ...

To propagate dahlias by division, follow these steps. In the fall, carefully prune the dahlia back until it’s a stump, then gently dig away the topsoil until you can see the tuber and root system.

Dahlia tubers over-winter safely in mild areas with well-drained soils not infested with root-nibbling insects, but they benefit from a digging, dividing and replanting every second spring.

After washing and dividing the tubers, they only let them sit out for 15 to 30 minutes on a sunny day until they are dry to the touch. “We then pack the tubers in shavings and store them in ...

Because of the size of whole dahlia tubers, pots that are at least 6 to 8 inches in diameter are needed. Larger-size tubers need even bigger pots, such as 1 gallon nursery containers.

The trick is to cover the tubers with a 6-inch pile of evergreen fern fronds immediately after you cut the dahlia stems to the ground. Don't forget to put a rock on top of the fronds to keep them ...

You should only lift dahlia tubers after the first heavy frost of the year - which is typically during the first or second ...

Ask Marianne: Take it easy: Leave dahlia tubers in the ground By MARIANNE BINETTI , SPECIAL TO THE P-I Sep 21, 2007 Q: Last year I dug up all my dahlias and stored them in plastic bags in my basement.