The Best Tools for Growing Dahlias (Tested on My Flower Farm)

This week I thought I'd share a list of my 17 favorite dahlia tools and supplies. 

Some of these I'm using on repeat right now, and some are more geared towards digging, dividing and storing my dahlias. 

Stirrup Hoe - I have a long handled version of the stirrup hoe as well as a short handled one. They're both super helpful to keep those weeds at bay until the dahlias get above 18" and really shade them out. For me, June through July is the season I devote the most time to keeping the weeds at bay in my field.

Tpost pounder - When I'm driving the metal tposts in my field, this tool is a necessity. At 18.5 pounds it's heavy, but I'm able to lift and use it as a woman in my late forties. I want my tposts to be secure as they will be holding up the weight of my dahlia plants and blooms!

Hortnova Trellis Netting - This is the support netting I use in my dahlia field. I stretch it between heavy duty T-posts at about 18" from the ground and add a second layer for my tallest dahlias.

Garden holster - I use this the most when I'm harvesting my dahlias to store my pruners, my phone and rubber bands!

Gorilla cart - I still remember when I first got my Gorilla Cart. It's been a game changer. It has large wheels that make it easy to pull around uneven surfaces. The best part is that it dumps like a dump truck! I use it to haul compost and fill it with tuber clumps when I'm digging them in the autumn.

Corona Tool Sharpener - This nifty little tool is something I use very regularly here at Pink Sky Flowers on my hoe, pruners, loppers and tuber dividing scissors.

Fiskars Loppers - I find these to be invaluable when I'm cutting down my dahlia plants before digging. Those "trunks" can get quite thick and these loppers are up to the task.

Warm garden gloves - These fleece-lined gardening gloves make digging and washing dahlia tubers a little less miserable on a drizzly day in November!

Black and Decker 22" Electric Hedge Trimmers - A quick pass with these just above my trellis netting makes it much easier to remove after first frost without getting all tangled up! I used to do this by hand with pruners, but this electric hedge trimmer makes that process so much quicker!

Dividing Scissors - I can't stress enough how much easier dividing tuber clumps is with these nifty scissors! The long narrow blades allow you to divide with precision, and I find them to be much easier on my hands than typical pruners. I'm never going back!

Garden fork - A strong garden fork is an essential and worth a bit of a splurge! I use my garden fork to dig my tubers in the autumn and it's less likely to break them than a shovel. It's also great for loosening soil around tough weeds or moving compost or mulch!

Indoor Garden mat - If you follow me on social media you've probably seen this bright green mat in the background of several of my reels! It contains the mess when I'm dividing or potting up tubers inside my house!

Dahlia Tuber Stamps - I absolutely love these stamps my friend Grace makes and sells through her Etsy shop. They are malleable, so they easily work on the gnarliest of dahlia tubers!

Vermiculite - Adding a scoop or two of vermiculite when I store my tubers has become my preferred method over the years. I have found it to act like a sponge to absorb extra moisture as needed. I've had very good luck storing my tubers this way.

Plastic bins - I like using these shoebox plastic bins to store my tubers over winter. They aren't too heavy and I can fit about 50 tubers in them on average!

Root Riot Cubes - You can absolutely root dahlia cuttings in potting soil or seed starting mix, but I have found these little biodegradable cubes to be absolutely worth using. My cuttings usually create visible roots within 10-20 days using these babies.

Good hand cream! - Having your hands in the dirt is incredibly hard on the skin, and I've found I need to use a really good hand cream daily. This one is so rich and healing.