Introduction
Growing dahlias is one of the most rewarding experiences a gardener can have. There is a unique thrill in watching a small, potato-like tuber transform into a towering plant covered in dinnerplate-sized blooms. These flowers offer an incredible range of colors and shapes that brighten the landscape from midsummer through the first frost. At Longfield Gardens, we want to ensure your gardening journey is as smooth and joyful as possible.
Sometimes, you might head out to your garden only to find a hole where your prize variety used to be. While it can be a bit surprising to find a tuber missing or nibbled, identifying the culprit is the first step toward a solution. This guide is designed for home gardeners who want to understand which animals are interested in their dahlias and how to protect them effectively.
We will cover the most common animals that dig in dahlia beds and provide practical, easy-to-follow steps to keep your plants safe. By understanding a few simple behaviors of local wildlife, you can create a beautiful, flourishing garden that lasts all season long.
Identifying the Culprits: Who Is Digging?
When a dahlia tuber goes missing or is dug up, several animals could be responsible. Most of these creatures are either looking for a meal or are simply curious about the freshly turned soil in your garden beds. Identifying the specific animal helps you choose the right protection method.
Voles
Voles are often the primary suspects when it comes to underground damage. These small rodents look like mice with shorter tails and stouter bodies. Unlike moles, which primarily eat grubs and insects, voles are herbivores that love to feast on roots, bark, and tubers.
Voles often travel through tunnels created by moles, making them difficult to spot. If your dahlia tuber seems to have vanished from beneath the soil without much surface disruption, a vole is likely the cause. They are active year-round and can be particularly hungry in the early spring when other food sources are scarce.
Squirrels and Chipmunks
Squirrels and chipmunks are famous for their curiosity. These animals are "surface diggers." They often notice when you have recently disturbed the soil to plant something new. To a squirrel, a freshly dug hole looks like a perfect place to find a buried nut or to hide their own winter stash.
In many cases, squirrels don't actually want to eat the dahlia tuber. They dig it up, realize it isn't what they were looking for, and leave it exposed on the surface. This can lead to the tuber drying out or being nibbled by other opportunistic animals.
Gophers and Pocket Gophers
If you live in an area with gophers, you may deal with a more determined digger. Gophers are larger than voles and are highly efficient at moving soil. They create characteristic fan-shaped mounds of dirt.
Gophers find dahlia tubers to be a delicious snack. They can pull an entire plant down into their tunnel system from below. If you see a dahlia plant suddenly wilt or disappear into the earth like a cartoon, a gopher is almost certainly the reason.
Raccoons and Skunks
Raccoons and skunks are generally not interested in eating dahlia tubers. However, they are very interested in the grubs and worms that live in the rich, moist soil of a well-tended garden bed.
When these animals dig, they usually create shallow, messy holes or "divots" in the mulch. They may accidentally unearth your tubers while searching for insects. You can often identify a skunk by the faint lingering scent or a raccoon by their distinctive paw prints that look like small hands.
Groundhogs (Woodchucks)
Groundhogs are voracious eaters that can cause significant damage both above and below ground. While they prefer the tender green shoots of the dahlia plant, they are powerful diggers. They may dig up tubers while excavating their burrows or simply while foraging for a variety of garden treats.
Key Takeaway: Most "disappearing" tubers are the work of voles or gophers, while "unearthed" tubers are typically the result of curious squirrels or insect-seeking raccoons.
How to Tell Which Animal Is Responsible
Before you take action, look for clues left behind in the garden. Each animal has a different "signature" that tells the story of what happened overnight.
- Clean, circular holes: This usually indicates a vole or a mouse. You might see a small entrance hole about the size of a golf ball with no mound of dirt nearby.
- Mounds of fresh soil: Large, fan-shaped mounds suggest gophers. If the mound is conical and the hole is plugged with soil, it is a classic gopher sign.
- Scattered mulch and shallow pits: This is the work of squirrels, raccoons, or skunks. The digging is focused on the surface rather than deep tunneling.
- Missing tubers with no surface holes: If the plant is still there but the tuber is gone, voles have likely accessed it through an existing underground tunnel.
- Neat, angled clips on stems: This isn't digging, but it’s a sign of rabbits. If the plant is dug up and the stems are bitten off cleanly, you may have a multi-animal visit.
Practical Strategies for Protecting Your Tubers
Protecting your dahlias doesn't have to be complicated. Most gardeners find success by using a combination of physical barriers and simple deterrents. Here is how to keep those tubers in the ground where they belong.
Using Hardware Cloth and Cages
The most effective way to stop burrowing animals like voles and gophers is to create a physical barrier. Hardware cloth is a sturdy wire mesh that animals cannot chew through.
When you plant your dahlia, you can create a "basket" out of hardware cloth. Use a mesh size of 1/2 inch or smaller. Dig a hole slightly larger than needed, line it with the wire basket, and then place your tuber inside with the appropriate soil. This allows the roots to grow through the mesh while keeping the main tuber body safe from hungry teeth.
For a simpler approach, you can buy pre-made wire gopher cages. These are easy to drop into the planting hole and provide immediate peace of mind.
The Gravel and Crushed Stone Method
Animals like voles and gophers have sensitive paws and noses. They generally dislike digging through sharp, coarse materials. When you plant your tubers, you can mix a handful of poultry grit or crushed stone into the soil surrounding the tuber.
This serves two purposes. First, it makes the area uncomfortable for rodents to navigate. Second, it can help improve drainage around the tuber, which is vital for preventing rot. Just a small "envelope" of gritty material around the tuber can be enough to encourage a vole to look elsewhere for an easier meal.
Deterring Surface Diggers
If squirrels are your main problem, the goal is to make the freshly disturbed soil look less interesting. Squirrels are often attracted to the scent of bone meal, which many gardeners use as a fertilizer. If you use bone meal, be sure to mix it deeply into the soil and cover the area well.
You can also place a temporary piece of chicken wire flat on the soil surface over the planting site. Weigh it down with a few stones. Once the dahlia sprouts and the soil "settles" and loses its freshly-dug scent, the squirrels will usually lose interest, and you can remove the wire.
Scent-Based Repellents
There are many commercial repellents available that use scents like castor oil, peppermint, or garlic to discourage digging. Castor oil-based granules or liquids are particularly popular for voles and gophers. When applied to the soil and watered in, the scent coats the animals' food sources and makes the area unappealing.
Keep in mind that scent-based repellents are not a permanent fix. They usually need to be reapplied after heavy rain or every few weeks to remain effective.
What to do next:
- Check your garden for existing tunnels or holes before planting.
- Purchase a roll of 1/2-inch hardware cloth if you have a history of vole damage.
- Avoid using strong-smelling organic fertilizers like bone meal on the soil surface.
- Consider planting your dahlias in large containers if underground pests are a major issue.
Timing and Soil Conditions
The environment play a significant role in how much attention your tubers receive. Understanding the timing of animal activity can help you plan your planting more effectively.
Planting After the Ground Warms
Wait until the soil has warmed to about 60°F before planting your dahlias outside. Not only do dahlias grow better in warm soil, but many animals have more natural food choices available by late spring. If you plant too early when the ground is still cold and other plants haven't started growing, your tubers may be the only food source available for hungry rodents.
The Importance of Drainage
While we are focusing on animals, it is important to remember that a tuber that doesn't sprout isn't always "eaten." If your soil is very heavy and wet, the tuber might rot. To a gardener, a rotted tuber can look like it was partially eaten.
Always ensure your dahlias are planted in a spot with excellent drainage. "Drainage" simply means how fast water leaves the soil. If you pour water on the ground and it sits in a puddle for a long time, the drainage is poor. Improving your soil with compost or planting in raised beds can help ensure your dahlias stay healthy.
Protecting Dahlias Throughout the Season
Once your dahlias have sprouted and are growing vigorously, the threat of them being dug up decreases. However, other animals may become interested in the foliage and flowers.
Fencing for Larger Animals
If groundhogs or rabbits are frequent visitors, a small fence is the best solution. For rabbits, a two-foot-tall fence made of chicken wire is usually enough. Make sure the bottom of the fence is buried a few inches into the ground to prevent them from squeezing underneath.
For groundhogs, the fence needs to be a bit more robust. Groundhogs are excellent climbers and diggers. A fence that is four feet tall with the top foot left "floppy" (not attached to posts) can prevent them from climbing over, as the wire will bend back under their weight.
Motion-Activated Solutions
Motion-activated sprinklers can be a very effective and humane way to keep a variety of animals out of the garden. When the sensor detects movement, it releases a quick burst of water. This startles the animal without causing any harm. These devices are especially useful for deterring deer, raccoons, and cats who might want to dig in your flower beds.
Safety Note for Pet Owners
It is important to remember that dahlia tubers and foliage can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats if ingested. While most pets will not show interest in the tubers, it is a good idea to keep them out of reach during the planting process. If you have a dog that loves to dig, using the hardware cloth or chicken wire methods mentioned above will help protect both your plants and your pet.
Post-Season Protection: Lifting and Storage
In many parts of the United States, dahlia tubers must be dug up and stored indoors for the winter. This process is often called "lifting." Lifting your tubers is actually a great way to protect them from winter pests.
When tubers are left in the ground in cold climates, they are at high risk of being eaten by voles, who are very active under the snow. By digging them up after the first frost, you remove the food source from the garden entirely.
Store your cleaned and dried tubers in a cool, dark, and dry place. Basements or unheated garages that stay above freezing are ideal. Use a storage medium like peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings to keep the tubers from drying out. This keeps them safe from garden pests and ready for a head start next spring.
Simple Troubleshooting for Missing Dahlias
If you notice a problem, follow these simple steps to figure out what happened and how to fix it:
- Gently dig around the area. Use your fingers or a small trowel to see if the tuber is still there. If it is there but mushy, it likely succumbed to rot, not an animal.
- Check for tunnels. If you find a hollow space or a tunnel leading directly to the planting site, you are dealing with voles or gophers.
- Observe the surface. If the soil is scattered and the tuber is lying on top, squirrels or raccoons were likely looking for something else and unearthed your dahlia by mistake.
- Re-plant with protection. If the tuber is still healthy, replant it using a wire cage or a handful of crushed stone. If it's gone, wait a few days before planting a replacement to allow the animal to move on.
The Joy of a Successful Bloom
Gardening is a journey of learning and adapting. Dealing with local wildlife is just one part of the process. While it can be a bit of work to protect your plants initially, the reward of seeing those first blooms in July or August makes it all worthwhile.
By taking a few simple precautions during planting time, you can significantly reduce the chances of your dahlias being disturbed. Most animals are simply looking for an easy meal; by making your garden a little bit harder to navigate, you encourage them to find food elsewhere.
Conclusion
Protecting your dahlias from curious or hungry animals is an achievable goal for every gardener. Whether you are dealing with tiny voles or active squirrels, the right combination of physical barriers and smart planting habits will keep your garden thriving. Remember that gardening is meant to be an enjoyable experience. At Longfield Gardens, we believe that with a little bit of knowledge and the right tools, anyone can grow a stunning display of flowers.
- Identify the animal by looking at the holes and soil mounds.
- Use hardware cloth cages to protect tubers from underground nibblers.
- Cover new planting sites with wire to discourage surface diggers.
- Improve soil drainage to prevent tubers from rotting.
Growing dahlias is a wonderful way to bring color and life to your yard. By spending just a few extra minutes during planting to protect your tubers, you set yourself up for a season of success and beauty.
FAQ
Will squirrels eat my dahlia tubers?
Squirrels rarely eat dahlia tubers, but they are very likely to dig them up. They are attracted to the freshly turned soil and are often looking for nuts or a place to hide food. Once they realize the tuber isn't a nut, they usually leave it on the soil surface where it can dry out or be damaged.
How do I stop voles from eating my dahlias?
The most effective way to stop voles is to plant your tubers in "baskets" made of 1/2-inch hardware cloth. You can also mix sharp materials like poultry grit or crushed stone into the planting hole. These physical deterrents make it difficult and uncomfortable for voles to reach the tubers.
Are dahlias deer resistant?
Dahlias are generally considered to be "occasionally damaged" by deer. While they are not a deer's favorite food, a hungry deer will eat the tender foliage and flower buds. If you have a high deer population, using a motion-activated sprinkler or a scent-based repellent on the leaves can help protect your plants.
Can I grow dahlias in pots to keep animals away?
Yes, growing dahlias in large containers is an excellent way to protect them from underground pests like voles and gophers. Pots can be placed on a patio or deck where burrowing animals cannot reach them. Just ensure the containers have good drainage holes and are large enough to support the full size of the plant.
