Dividing Dahlia Tubers in Spring
As the winter draws to a close and the temperatures begin to rise, it gives us a welcome opportunity to get out in our gardens and enjoy the sun. There are probably a few tasks that you need to tick off your list to get your yard ready for spring, and dividing dahlia tubers is one you can get right into. This is just one of a few different ways to propagate plants to spread them around your yard.
There are a few reasons why propagation is good for your garden, so read on for our expert advice on the reasons to divide them, as well as best ways to divide dahlia tubers in spring.
About Dahlias
Dahlias may be native to Central America, but they are livening up gardens all over the world, including in Australia. The lavish blooms come in a range of colours including white, pink, purple, yellow, crimson red, and more, adding plenty of dimension to floral arrangements.
These are perennial plants, meaning that when properly looked after, they’ll continue to bloom each summer for three to five years. This is what makes caring for them so important. The plant’s tuberous roots store all of the energy and nutrients it needs to support early growth before it’s able to get these from soil, which is why dividing the tubers needs to be done carefully.
Why Divide Tubers
You might be wondering about the benefits of taking on this task, and wondering if it’s really worth your time and attention. If this sounds like you, then you might be surprised to find out just how much your yard can benefit from this!
Share the beauty
By dividing up dahlia tubers, you’ll be easily able to propagate the plant, giving you even more beautiful flowers to enjoy come summertime. Not only is this an easy way to grow your garden, it’s also a lot more cost-effective than buying new bulbs.
Good for plant health
Digging up dahlias to divide their tubers gives you a chance to check them over for any signs of disease or weakness. If you do identify something concerning, then you can carefully remove the affected tuber from the rest, preventing the issue from spreading to more tubers.
Creates space
Dahlias can grow and grow until suddenly, they’ve run out of space and soil to soak up unused nutrients from. Dividing the plant means that you can control its size and replenish the soil’s resources, which will in turn prevent the plant’s growth from being stunted.
How to Divide Dahlia Tubers
Timing
Spring is the best time to dig up and divide dahlia tubers as this tends to be when their ‘eyes’ are most visible. Tubers must have eyes to be viable for growth, so being able to identify these will help you to judge which tubers should be replanted and which ones to dispose of. The eyes on tubers are like a small bump or axillary bud, and in springtime these may already have some sprouts, which will make them even easier to spot.
Preparation
Before you start digging, you’ll need to gather the tools required for the job. For this, you’ll want to use loppers or pruners, as well as a small shovel, trowel, or gardening fork. You might also want to use a wheelbarrow if you’ll be digging up multiple plants and moving them somewhere else to divide. Along with the tools, you should get a disinfectant solution ready so that you can clean your instruments between each cutting to prevent the spread of any lingering nasties between tubers.
Digging
When you’re ready to get digging, use your shovel to carefully work around the plant with enough space to ensure you don’t accidentally cut through it. The plant should be removed in one whole clump, which may take some loosening up from the soil by gently rocking the shovel back and forth. Once out of the ground, you can gently shake some soil and dirt off, leaving a little behind to help the tubers retain some of their moisture.
Dividing
When your tubers are cleaned up enough that you can make out the natural divisions, you can grab your loppers, pruners, or whatever tool you choose to use. Start by carefully cutting along the root clump divisions to break the plant down into halves, or smaller sections if that’s what you prefer to work with. You can also cut it down to individual tubers so you have even more to propagate.
Don’t worry too much about that main or ‘mother’ tuber, as this has already used up all of its energy and resources, so you’ll be discarding it anyway. If there are any tubers that don’t have eyes or don’t appear to be in particularly good health, then you can set these aside too.
Replanting
Now that the trickiest part of dividing and propagating your dahlia plant is done, it’s time to decide where the best places in your garden are to plant them for an added pop of colour! If you’re new to planting, then take a look at our more comprehensive guide on planting dahlias, otherwise, here’s a quick summary of the process:
When you’ve decided where you want to place your new dahlia tubers, grab your trowel and dig about four to six inches deep into the soil. Place each tuber lying horizontally, eye side up, and cover with soil. Try to avoid watering your freshly-planted dahlias until the first signs of new growth are visible above the soil, as over-watering them will lead to rotting. Once you can see the new sprouts emerging from the ground, you should water them thoroughly a couple of times a week.
Gardening Experts
Now that you know how to successfully divide dahlia tubers, the process can be repeated every two or three years to get the most out of your plant’s life span. If you want to keep these stunning blooms in your yard but aren’t up to taking on the commitment of it all, don’t stress! At Jim’s Mowing, our skilled team members are experts in all things gardening, and are happy to help out with whatever you need. Simply contact us today to get chatting and find out what we can do for you.
