Sign In or Join Now
Hi
My HGTV

Digging Summer Bulbs

If you want your summer bulbs to bloom again next year, you'll want to dig them up and store them for the winter. Here's a tutorial.

Tools
Font
  • A
  • A
  • A

E-mail This Page to Your Friends

x

All fields are required.

Separate multiple e-mail addresses with a comma

Sending E-mail

Sending E-mail

Or Do Not E-mail

Success!

A link to %this page% was e-mailed

If you live in areas where dahlias aren't hardy, you must dig them up and store them for the winter.

Topics of Interest

Rebecca's Garden
More from the show

Bulbs such as dahlia, gladiolus and tuberous begonia are the best for late summer color. In warmer zones they'll come back year after year, but in colder climates where the foliage dies back, it's time to dig up the bulbs.

  • Start by cutting back the foliage of the plant with pruners. Then insert a pitchfork around the perimeter of the plant, taking care that you're not disturbing the root ball. Carefully rock the pitchfork back and forth. Do this until the root ball can be easily removed from the soil. Very carefully pull the soil away from the bulb or tuber.

  • Dry the bulbs by putting them in a sunny location for about two days. This process is called "curing." Curing thickens the bulb and also prevents fungus or mold from developing on moist parts.

    • After digging up your tender bulbs or tubers and curing them (here, an elephant ear), you can take this opportunity to divide them.

  • After the bulb or tuber is dried, remove the remainder of the dried foliage and separate divisions of the bulbs.

  • Once they are cured, place the bulbs in a container filled with sawdust, peat moss, sand or any other type of material that will help keep the bulbs dry. Make sure the tubers are completely covered to block out the light, then store them in a cool, dry location.

    If storing a variety of bulbs, it's a good idea to keep them separated using net or paper bags. Don't forget to mark the bulbs or else you could be in for some surprises next spring.

    • Resources

    Related Content

    Q&A: Gardening With Chipmunks

    Read More

    Memorable Gifts for Mom

    Memorable Gifts for Mom

    Readers share their favorite memories of gardening gifts....

    Read More

    Slow Gardening

    Slow Gardening

    Felder Rushing talks about taking it slow in the garden....

    Read More

    Comparison Shop for Home Decor and Garden Tools at Shopzilla and BizRate.

    UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.