Question:
When is the best time to transplant Dahlias? I want to move them to another location that gets more sun.Answer:
- Dahlias are commonly removed from the ground, divided, and replanted. This is best done from the middle of November through the end of January.
- You could store the tubers or replant them in their new location. Dahlias are replanted in containers or in the ground, February through April. However, the foliage should have turned yellow; with our varied micro-climates,
- Dahlias may not go dormant in parts of the Bay Area. If the foliage is still green, I'd just cut the plants off two inches above the ground and strip the foliage back to the trunk or stub.
- Next, you sever the lateral roots by encircling the clump(s) eighteen inches from the trunk/stub and down eighteen inches with a round nose shovel or spading fork. Once the circle is completed, gently pry back on the shovel or fork to loosen the soil.
- Dahlia clump(s) are then gently removed from the hole by lifting upward. You can use the stub as a handle. It would be best if you were gentle, as many clumps have small tubers that can break or crack easily.
- The long skinny part of the tuber is referred to as the neck. Dahlias with damaged or cracked necks will not survive. With a gentle stream of water, wash all the soil off the clump(s), exposing all the tubers. T
- he darkest color tuber is last year's plant. It is also referred to as the mother tuber. Once the clump(s) have aired dried, you can store the clump(s) as is or divide them and store the parts. The choice is yours.
- The new tubers are separated from the clump with a sharp knife, scissors, or a pair of hand shears. They must be sharp as the wound is less likely to become infected from a nice clean cut.
- Dahlias sprout from the eyes. A tuber will not sprout unless it has at least one' eye.' The eyes are found at the top of a tuber or at the end of the neck on the ridge where the tuber joins the clump. When a tuber is removed from the clump, the eyes' ridge must be attached to the tuber. In some cases, this will also require taking a piece of the clump. Also, trim off any excess roots. Individual tubers or clumps are stored in paper bags or in open boxes in a cool, usually a garage.
Question:
My grass has mounds of dirt in it. Someone says it’s grubs. I’m not too sure what to do?Answer:
- Grubs do not cause this type of damage. They are not anatomically structured to make mounds or churn soil. Grubs feed only on the grass roots under the soil surface. I’d suspect that you have a gopher(s). Flooding, trapping, poison baits and gas are a few of the many solutions that unfortunately are not full proof. The one that works for you is a trial and error process.