Keep Your Dahlias Alive this Winter: A Practical Winter Storage Guide

Winter can be brutal on frost-shy dahlias. I get so ridiculously attached to mine, it makes it heartbreaking to see how many gardeners lose theirs over the winter. Years of gardening have taught me that as far as lifting and overwintering dahlia tubers is concerned,  timing and technique is the way to keep them safe from winter's grip. While I might occasionally lose track of which tuber is which (labels sometimes bizarrely wander while my dahlias are tucked up safely in their winter storage boxes), I haven't lost an actual dahlia TUBER in years. Here's my tried-and-tested method, to save you money and heartbreak in the hope it might help YOUR tubers get through this coming winter too.

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Timing Your Dahlia Lift

While the dahlias planted in my borders will be taking their chances under a thick mulch of compost emptied from my hot bins (when I FINALLY get around to it!), I’ve already lifted the ones from my pots to make way for spring bulbs. Those who say wait for the first frost are playing a risky game if you ask me. I'd rather lift them now while they're still in good nick than gamble with a sudden cold snap.

With 22 pots to tackle, this needs a full weekend (sometimes two!) for the big lift and spring bulb replant here. With my daffodils, muscari and iris reticulata already sprouting – there wasn't a moment to lose. Though I don't have tulips this year due to tulip fire blight (BEYOND annoying!) you’re best off waiting for colder weather before you plant tulip bulbs, as this helps prevent the dreaded blight. Lift your dahlias anyway and leave the pots empty for a bit – better to tackle that job now than in the biting cold later!