Meridian Co-Op Gardeners-KLEINER PARK

10/15/2026

I highly recommend dahlia tuber dividing parties! The conversations are fun and funny, “where’s the eye?!” We were able to knock out about half today. We start by removing: damaged or broken tubers, skinny necks, tails, and tumors before getting into the real tuber saving.

10/15/2026

Here’s a short video on dividing a clump of tubers.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19zRohYjjY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/15/2026

There are drop locations at Heroes and Kleiner Park.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14qBsbszpAf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Leaves changing colors = Leaf season! 🍂
Our annual free leaf collection event, Recycle the Fall, gives you two ways to ditch those leaves:
• Drop site locations throughout the City
• Curbside collection
When and Where 📅
• Ada County Landfill Drop Site: Oct 5 – Dec 12
• Meridian Drop Site Locations: Oct 20 – Dec 10
• Curbside Collection: Nov 2 – Dec 4

Basic Guidelines:
• Leaves only – no branches, pumpkins, or garden plants
• No plastic bags or cardboard boxes
• If using paper leaf bags, 👉 don’t tape or staple them
• Drop-off:👉 Use paper leaf bags or place leaves loosely in the bin
• Curbside collection option 👉 Use paper leaf bags or place leaves loosely in your subscription yard debris cart

10/15/2026

Love a helpful hack. Rubber mallet for the win to knock dirt off tubers.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19cypwXh23/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/15/2026

Dahlia tubers come in all shapes in sizes. Some clumps looks easy to tackle and others are a hot mess of twisted tubers. The art of dividing dahlias sometimes takes a bit of patience to be successful.

10/14/2026

Enel Group was in the garden yesterday to volunteer. This mighty group of five was able to help us with a few projects needed to wrap up our season. We are grateful for all volunteers, but this company has come back year after year like clockwork to help put the garden to bed! Thank you Enel Group!

10/13/2026

There are many ways to store dahlias and you have to find what works best for you.
Do your research. Ask your local dahlia friends and groups.

We use a hose sprayer to rinse off dahlia clumps prior to dividing. It’s important to only wash the number of clumps you can divided in 12-24 hours. We use a large landscape bucket or garbage can with a plastic bin or a screen on top to set the dahlias on. The majority of the water will catch in the bucket and you can pour on plants needing watered in your yard.

Once dried and divided we will label individual tubers with a black sharpie and wrap in plastic wrap. Wrapped tubers are stored in plastic tubs in an unheated garage. Ideal storing temperature are 40°-50°F. If it’s colder they will freeze and rot, if it’s warmer they can dehydrate or rot.

We have had our best success using the plastic wrap method and we can store a lot of tubers in a small space.

10/12/2026

We made it to the end of our 15th season with almost all of our families. We had some health and life challenges this year that made it difficult for everybody to finish. That’s the beauty of working in community.—everybody else stepped up to do the work.

This crew worked tirelessly…no slackers in the group😊. We survived the summer heat and six weeks of smoke. We survived the pests, diseases and weeds. We worked together and grew a garden that fed our families and other families in our community. We grew flowers that added color everywhere they were shared, bringing happiness to those who received them. The children worked alongside us and continued to learn about growing and eating healthy food. It’s a labor of love and a beautiful connection of people of all ages who love to garden and give back to their community. Way to go MCG Kleiner Park family..

10/12/2026

Even colder overnight… and it snowed at Bogus today. Hopefully tender plants are covered, especially if you are trying to extend your garden season.

10/11/2026

Inquiring minds have been asking about the dahlias. We cut them back a week ago and dug them up yesterday. Many dahlia growers like waiting until after the first killing frost…I don’t like messing with soggy plants. I also don’t like hosing them off when it’s cold outside.

We have a schedule at the community garden and it’s important that we can all be involved, and we have enough help. The dahlias were dug up, dirt was removed, tubers were placed in a paper bag with their corresponding plant tag, and the name written on the outside of the bag and brought to my house. This is the way we have done it the last few years. Dividing up next.