Dahlias are the undisputed showstoppers of any garden. With their bold, vibrant colors and incredible variety of shapes and sizes, from delicate petite pompons to massive 10–12-inch giants, these late-summer bloomers bring drama and joy right up to the first frost.

Dahlia tubers require careful winter storage in colder climates like USDA Zone 6a in West Michigan, where freezing ground temperatures make inground overwintering impossible. Gardeners use a variety of methods to keep tubers dormant, prevent rot from excess moisture, and avoid shriveling from too-dry conditions.

Read more to see how Banta Blooms stores our tubers for winter.