In the Dahlia Garden - by Linda Ernst

As I write this, we are bracing for a significant ice storm-one of those reminders that February is still very much winter, even though our gardening hearts are already drifting toward spring. For dahlia growers, February is less about doing and more about preparing, protecting, and planning. 

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Watching the Weather (and the Garden)

February weather in our area can be unpredictable. Ice, heavy rain, and fluctuating temperatures are all part of the mix. For those who left tubers in the ground, now is the time to make sure winter protection is still in place. Mulch, pine needles, or leaf cover may need to be fluffed back up if wind or rain has shifted it. Good drainage remains critical-standing water combined with cold temperatures is far more damaging than cold alone. Growers who lifted and stored tubers should check them periodically this month. Look for signs of rot or excessive shriveling. A gentle touch is all that's needed-remove any compromised tubers and lightly mist those that appear too dry.

 

Resist the Urge to Rush

On mild February days, it's tempting to tidy up the garden or pull back winter coverings. Resist that urge. Dahlias are still dormant, and premature exposure can lead to damage if cold temperatures return-as they often do. Think of February as a month for restraint; the best action is often no action at all.

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Planning Season Begins

February is a wonderful time to plan for the coming season. Take inventory of stored tubers, label varieties if needed, and decide which ones you may want to divide once spring truly arrives. This is also the perfect time to review last year's notes: • • Which varieties performed best? Which locations had the best drainage and sun? Where might improvements be made? Seed catalogs and dahlia lists are hard to resist this time of year-and dreaming is absolutely allowed.

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Preparing the Soil (On Paper, Not with a Shovel)

While the soil may be frozen or saturated now, February is a good time to think ahead. Plan for soil amendments, compost additions, or bed expansions once conditions allow. Healthy soil is the foundation for strong plants later in the season.

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A Month of Quiet Work

February reminds us that gardening isn't always about visible progress. Sometimes it's about patience, observation, and trust in the cycle. While ice storms may come and go, our dahlias are resting-gathering strength for the spectacular season ahead.

Spring will arrive soon enough...

Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and keep dreaming of blooms.

                                                                      Linda

January finds the dahlia garden quiet and resting, but for gardeners, this is an important time of preparation and planning. While our beds may be bare and the blooms only memories, winter offers the perfect opportunity to tend to details that set the stage for a successful season ahead. Among our members, there are many approaches to winter care. Some gardeners have dug, divided, and stored their tubers, while others—myself included—have chosen to leave them safely in the ground. My garden benefits from what I affectionately call my Magic Tree, which helps absorb excess water from winter rains and the occasional snow. To prepare for cold weather, I spread a layer of compost over the beds and covered it with pine needles for insulation. This mulch helps regulate soil temperature, prevents erosion, and protects tubers during freeze–thaw cycles.

 

For those who have stored tubers, January is a good time to check storage conditions. Look for signs of rot or excessive shriveling and remove any compromised tubers so problems don’t spread. Tubers that appear dry can be lightly misted or wrapped with slightly damp packing material to prevent further dehydration.

 

Garden planning is another productive winter task. Review last season’s notes—which varieties thrived, which struggled, and where improvements can be made. January is also a great time to sketch out garden layouts, keeping in mind plant height, spacing, airflow, and sun exposure. Thoughtful planning now can help reduce disease pressure and make summer maintenance easier.

 

Winter is also the season for catalog browsing and gardener conversations. Talking with fellow dahlia growers often reveals which varieties performed well in our climate. Living in the North Carolina Piedmont, I especially look for heat-tolerant tubers that can handle our hot, humid summers. Choosing varieties proven to succeed locally increases the chances of strong plants and abundant blooms.

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Even in the stillness of January, the garden is full of promise. I get very attached to my dahlias, and I look forward to welcoming them back each spring. Though they rest beneath the soil or on storage shelves, this winter work—planning, protecting, and preparing—ensures they will return ready to thrive.

January Dahlia To-Do List

• Check stored tubers for rot or excessive drying; discard any that show problems

• Ensure stored tubers remain cool, dark, and protected from freezing

• Inspect in-ground beds for drainage issues after heavy rain or snow

• Refresh mulch if needed to maintain insulation

• Review notes from last season and identify strong performers

• Browse catalogs and research heat-tolerant varieties suited to our area

• Talk with fellow dahlia growers and start a wish list for spring planting

 

While it seems a long time to Spring, it really isn’t. December 21st was the shortest day of the year. After that the days subtly get longer. Even as I write this I have noticed that the sun sets later. And another thing I have noticed is January provides some fantastic sunsets. So enjoy the changing seasons that Mother Nature provides for us!

Hope to see you at our February Meeting!!  

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                         Linda

December settles gently into our Central Carolina dahlia gardens, bringing with it a welcome stillness—a deep exhale after the bright rush of summer and fall blooms. Though the flowers have faded, this is not an empty season. It is a quiet, purposeful pause, when our gardens rest and we gardeners shift from tending to dreaming.

 

For those of us who leave our dahlias in the ground, December becomes less about digging and dividing and more about protecting, observing, and trusting nature to do her winter work. My own garden has already received its winter blanket: a fresh layer of compost to nourish next year’s growth, topped with airy pine needles that insulate the tubers while still allowing the soil to breathe. In our region, pine needles are especially helpful—they don’t compact, they handle our erratic winter rains well, and they moderate soil temperatures during those freeze-thaw swings that the Carolinas love to surprise us with.

 

Even in this quiet month, it’s wise to take a moment after storms to ensure the mulch is still in place, adding a bit more if the wind has rearranged it. While we want our tubers to stay cool, we also want to avoid trapping too much moisture, so moderation is key. Cold and slightly dry is perfect; warm and soggy is trouble.

 

December weather here can never quite make up its mind—frosty mornings, sweater-weather afternoons, and the occasional dramatic cold snap. Beneath all this, the dahlia tubers are settling into deep dormancy, storing energy, repairing, and preparing. Though nothing appears to be happening, the foundation for next year’s blooms is quietly forming underground.

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The winter garden also offers small joys if we pause to notice them. Birds flit between bare stalks and feeders, adding movement and life to the sleeping beds. Leaving a few dahlia stalks standing can provide helpful shelter for them, and it brings a whisper of structure to a space otherwise softened by winter’s hush.

 

December is also the gardener’s reflective season. It’s the perfect time to revisit our notes from the growing year: which varieties dazzled, which struggled, which stole our hearts, and which we might graciously retire. It’s also the moment when catalogues appear like holiday temptations, full of possibilities for spring. Many of us find ourselves circling new varieties with the optimism only a fresh garden year can inspire.

 

For those who want a small winter project, this is a fine time to check soil pH, make improvements to drainage, or tidy up tools and labels that will make our spring selves silently thank us. These tasks are gentle, slow, and satisfying—just right for December days.

 

And so, as the garden rests beneath its pine-needle quilt, we rest a bit too. December reminds us that a dahlia garden never truly disappears; it simply changes tempo. Beneath the stillness, next year’s beauty is already waiting, gathering strength, preparing for the moment it will rise again into the light.

 

Until then, we can enjoy the quiet, embrace the dreaming, and trust in the promise tucked beneath the winter soil. 

                                           Linda