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Gardening Tip of the Month
For more information on any gardening question stop by Delhi Flower and Garden Center and ask one of our many horticulture and landscaping experts!Dividing Herbaceous Perennials
Why
Dividing herbaceous perennials can be very beneficial to you and your plants. First, you get a few more free plants for your landscaping or to give away to your friends and family and who doesn’t love free plants! Second, dividing perennials regularly benefits the plant itself. Often perennials grow so large that they start to become crowded which may lead to a lack of blooms. In this case it is necessary to divide the plant in order to maintain its healthy and happy growth.
How
There are some plants that benefit from frequent divisions, every 2-3 years, while others do better being divided less frequently, every 3 to 4 years. Plants that like to be divided every 2 to 3 years include Geraniums, Geum (Avens), Heuchera (Coral Bells), and Phlox. These plants are also fairly easy to divide. Pulling the roots apart into chunks with your fingers typically splits most herbaceous perennials, like those listed.
Larger perennials, such as daylilies, hostas, and grasses will require more physical strength in making divisions, but should only be divided every 3 to 4 years. Use a narrow spade to slice the crown into as many sections as needed, making sure that each division has an eye for new growth to occur.
When it comes to bulbs, dig up the original and replant the offsets, or the smaller bulbs on the outside or base of the large clump. Don’t forget to use a fungicide to dip the bulb into or a weak bleach-water mixture to prevent the bulb from rotting or obtaining a disease.
Make note of how far the plants were buried in the ground when you dug them up so that the newly divided plants are buried at a similar depth in order to avoid rotting. If your plants require a little more shade, such as hostas, and the coming weeks are going to be hot and sunny, a temporary shade might be needed. Using burlap or cardboard and a few sticks, a new plant can be easily shaded until established or the heat wave has passed. Additionally, take extra time to water while the divided plants regain strength. When
A good rule of thumb to follow as to when plants should be divided is determined by the plant’s bloom period. If it blooms in spring or summer, divide in the fall, but if it blooms in the fall, divide in spring. Make sure that whatever is divided has enough time to become established in the fall before winter comes. For example, hardy spring bulbs need to be divided late spring to midsummer while grasses that bloom in late summer or fall should be divided in the early spring.
Need more information? Visit our Past Tips page for links to more articles and links to other professional web sites.