I cut them down to the ground after the first hard frost. Then, I wait for a week or two before digging them up for storage.

That tractor really makes it easier. Plus you have all those peonies to cut down and dispose of. Dahlias go into garage to dry well and then ground. Peony detritus goes into the dumpster. And then that just leaves the rest of the garden. groan. My dahlias are sleeping in the crawl space now. At least that is over for the year. Except for checking every two weeks.

I'm anxious to get cleaned up. But despite two frosts my dahlias still look just fine. And it looks like another week before another chance of frost. It is amazing what a difference it makes for night time temps living closer to the water.

I cut all of mine down on Saturday. I haven't taken care of any of my other fall gardening chores but that one is done. The last vases of flowers are looking a bit sad and droopy, but I haven't been willing to dump them yet.

It was my best dahlia season yet. A little tree trimming helped, plus about 25 new types added this year. Sad that it is over, but already looking forward to next season.

Me too. Found another vendor and ordered three more (ones I had before but didn't work too well) hoping that a different vendor might bring better results for those plants. Planted two day lilies and six lilies today. Weather is cooperating big time. Clear blue skies and 40. Just gorgeous. Will give the fall planted stuff a chance to auger in before snow flies.

Started to dig some dahlias yesterday.

Here are some tuber clump photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

Great looking tubers and equally great looking dividing job. I like your work bench. My biggest problem is where to wash the tubers. I have to sluice them in a bucket outside then drain the water and then dump the remaining mud somewhere. Mine are wrapped up and going to sleep now.

Those are some healthy looks tuber clumps!

I hope to get mine dug this weekend. The weather is supposed to be lovely, which will be a nice change. Seems like I am usually digging tubers when it is cold and gray.

Hi Frank,

You always just mill through all that work like it is nothing, amazing.

I like your trays, where did they come from?

Trust all good with you,

Peter

Cantillon said:
Hi Frank,

You always just mill through all that work like it is nothing, amazing.

I like your trays, where did they come from?

Trust all good with you,

Peter

Peter, the trays are from an old dehydrator. Seems like they were made for the job:)

As far as all that work in concerned, I now do a few hours work promptly in one week!

Trust all is well with you as well.

I found the trays you get from the nurseries that have mesh in the bottom to carry your plants home work wonderfully well for drying when turned upside down. I don't have enough as they now seem to use cardboard box trays for that purpose.

So it was only after last night's freeze that my dahlias finally turned brown and crunchy! I think this is the longest they have ever gone. I plan to dig them up next weekend. I might be able to get to one or two during the week. But not likely since it will now be dark when I get home from work

What part of Michigan. I am surprised that we don't have anyone closer into the center near Houghton Lake.

I'm in Clinton Township, east of Detroit.

I did dig a few dahlias today. I found an old long fork that belonged to my husband's grandfather. It worked great! But Cutting them up did not go so well. I gave up for today. I'll get back to it next weekend. That will be my last chore. The callas and glads are all dug up and ready for storage.

A few had new shoots growing. That was new to me.

My glads send up little sprouts in the fall also. Then go dormant when they are put into the boxes to store. Don't let your tubers shrivel. A week is a fair amount of time to let them lie

Ooops! I meant some of my dahlias had new shoots

OH. Mine too. Little eyes and some not so little