The list of easy perennials was part of a list found in the very informative Clemson University Home and Garden Fact Sheet, "Dividing Perennials." You are new to plant maintenance and have no idea how to divide your garden plants, which plants can be divided, or when to divide … When to divide perennials. If you need more perennial plants, but must curtail your budget, learning to multiply plants that thrive with division is the answer for you. Because every perennial has a preferred way to be divided, use this handy chart to help you know what time of year to divide, how to divide it and a handful of other helpful tips to ensure your success. Divide and repot perennials to alleviate crowded roots. There are far less chores clamoring for attention later in the season. 10 Ways to Keep Your Houseplants Healthy and Alive. Sedum spectabile is probably the easiest plant to grow on this list. Many herbaceous perennials produce fibrous roots, which are very easy to divide into sections. Brunnera, Siberian Bugloss, is a plant I like to be a bit more careful with when making more plants. The video shows the typical method for splitting a large size plant into smaller parts. Dig up the whole clump and pull or cut the root ball apart. Perennials such as asters, hostas, and yarrow can be divided easily with no hassle. Over the years I found that in spring you can increase your stock just by burying some sprigs (as long as they are kept moist until rooted). It is as simple as that. By Bill Marken, Suzanne DeJohn, The Editors of the National Gardening Association . The plants remain a contrasting form in the garden long after the blooms have faded. These are very long lived plants that don’t like to be moved. by Ilona | Featured Articles, Garden How-To Practical Help, Garden perennials, Spring. First prepare the bed where you want to plant them. German Iris is one of the plants that are best lifted and replanted in late summer, when they are dormant. As they grow, they produce the newest, strongest growth around the edge. Again, I like to use a garden fork to lift them so the roots aren’t as easily damaged. I think it makes a big difference in the vigor of your plants. Yarrow, Achillea, benefits from regular dividing, so you will always have plenty of plants if following this practice. When to Divide. Usually, this is a case of dividing the root ball or root system by hand, or with a garden spade. It transplants readily, with little trouble- simply follow the same methods of replanting in good, worked soil, and keeping moist afterwards. Summer is risky because heat and drought can wither the plants before they get a chance to root deeply enough to survive; but even then, it is possible if you are willing to be careful to water and care for them. Easy to divide; roots usually pull apart easily by hand; divide every 3 to 4 years. Try to divide your perennials on a cloudy day. Plant each rhizome with its roots no deeper than an inch, with the top exposed or just lightly covered with soil. ... One of the great aspects of perennials is that you can frequently divide the plants, increasing your garden’s yield without increasing your costs. Phlox subulata, Creeping Phlox, was the first plant that I made into numerous starts by cutting up a mother plant. 20 Perennials for Full Sun; Perennial Flowers for Shade; 16 Ornamental Grasses You Should Grow; 12 Easy-to-Grow Perennials; The Best Flowers for Full Sun; Perennials That Need Dividing Every Few Years Follow these 5 easy steps to divide your perennials. Divide Perennials: Step 1 Dividing perennials is an easy and inexpensive way to gain additional plants for your garden or to share. They make a good ground cover and are a bee plant. It likes a bit of moisture and doesn’t mind partly sunny, but full sun suits it best. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we https://gardenerspath.com/how-to/propagation/divide-perennials Thankfully, dividing perennials does not have to be a difficult process, making it perfect for this week’s Beginner Gardening Wednesday. Simply dig up the entire clump and then carefully divide the crown and root ball into two or more section, depending on the size of the clump. A basic gardening technique, it is useful for a wide range of plants. These include monkshood (Aconitum), false indigo (Baptisia), bleeding heart (Dicentra), lupine (Lupinus), peony (Paeonia), and poppy (Papaver).If possible, divide perennials just before a rainy spell is predicted. Then carefully pull out the pieces with some root to them. However, division is most successful when the plants are not in active growth. Cut the plant into pieces that can all be replanted into good garden soil that is well drained, but with. It is so easy that it makes the perfect beginner plant for division. Plants tend to be slug resistant, disease resistant and deer resistant. Mail this article Print this article. They will reward you for a lifetime. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Some are happy for generations in the same spot.For this reason, be sure to prepare the soil with well aged manure, bonemeal, and compost. Space plants about 6 inches apart. In my garden they can look a little ratty by the end of the season due to insect damage. Learn how to populate the garden with these 20 easy to grow perennials. Add plenty of bonemeal and some compost to the soil. Use your garden fork to easily lift the mosther plant. Their root structures starts to become overcrowded. Nepeta mussinii, Catmint, is dug up and split into smaller pieces in the same way as other plants. This works for a lot of different plants, including hostas, irises, geraniums, and daylilies. Every Wednesday, we publish an article to help make gardening easier and this week’s article is all about dividing perennials. I often help them establish in areas where I wish them to grow with just little bits of the plant, and no real care is needed. Oenothera, Evening Primrose, are short lived, so they definitely benefit from regular division. A cinch to multiply by taking up sections of plant. Rudbeckia, Black Eyed Susan There are numbers of plants to buy under this name, but ‘Goldsturm‘ is an old variety that has stellar qualities. It is best to lift the whole plant and then cut into smaller clumps which are relocated to their new place, level with where they were previously growing. Lungwort is dependable and easy to grow, requiring very little care. Click To Tweet. No particular care is needed outside of the usual concerns for moisture while they are re-establishing. Next, prepare your plants by lifting them with a garden fork. When crowded and not blooming well, they should definitely be scheduled for division. Now is a good time to divide perennials as they die back. Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss, is one of the lovely plants that have forget-me-not like flowers but with very attractive large heart shape leaves. recommended time for dividing perennials. In the spring they are fresh and lovely. Late summer and early fall are the best times to dig up and divide perennials. Clivea Miniata: An Easy-to-Care-for Flowering Houseplant. Place each plant section no more than 2 inches below ground in the prepared ground. Early fall weather may be the most pleasant for outside work. The succulent leaves ensure that it can withstand the shock that comes with being separated from the main rootstock. Heuchera, Coralbells, have become wildly popular and the breeders have spared no effort in providing plants where the spectacular foliage highlights shady garden spots. This big family of … Divide in spring; lift clump and cut into sections; Easy to divide; divide every 2 to 3 years to keep plants blooming and vigorous; discard dead central portion, Divide every 3 years or when flowering diminishes; discard the woody center and plant the edge pieces, A ring of foliage around a dead center tells you it’s time to divide; usually every 3 to 4 years is sufficient, Rarely needs to be divided; tough roots make dividing difficult; leave plenty of room around new transplants because the plant gets large, Divide every 3 to 5 years to keep plants vigorous, Rarely needs to be divided; if you do divide it, do it in early spring while plants are in bloom or right after they stop flowering, Easy to divide in early spring when foliage is emerging; dividing large clumps later won’t harm plants but leaves them lopsided for the summer, Rarely needs to be divided, so divide only for new plants, every 7 to 8 years. Thus there are some short-lived perennials, such as gaillardia, perennial flax, and certain coreopsis that really should be divided frequently, in fact ever two or three years, otherwise they tend to disappear for no apparent reason. Dividing perennials is a great way to multiply the plants in your garden but is also often necessary to keep a plant healthy and full of vigour. There are three main types of Achillea, (A.filipendulina, A.millefolium, and A.ptarmica), and this method is useful for each of them. A single asterisk indicates that division should take place after the plant flowers. Learn how dividing perennials can be easy and save you money with the correct know-how. #1 Select Healthy, Mature Plants. Simply take a piece of the plant that includes root, stem, and leaves firming it into good soil that is kept moist after replanting. Feed in early spring as soon as the flowering has stopped and twice more during the summer to keep the plant vigorous. Pieces can be separated from the main plant and set directly into the ground where you wish them to grow. 10 Unique Houseplants That Need a Green Thumb. Or simply divide them for the sake of having multiple of your favorite plants! When dividing plants in the fall, time it for four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants roots to become established. It is easy to locate the plants that need dividing. Not requiring division, but can be easily moved. The directions for propagation by division may seem redundant. I’ve used both this and transplant solutions and they have worked equally well for me. When to divide Hardy Geraniums aka Cranesbill Gerniums Fall or early Spring as they begin to grow is a good time to do this. Perennials that have occupied the same space for too many years can begin to fail. Lift the entire plant with a garden fork. Best Time to Divide Perennials continued Hosta Easy to divide in early spring when foliage is emerging; dividing large Hosta hybrids clumps later won’t harm plants but leaves them lopsided for the summer Japanese painted fern Rarely needs to be divided, so divide only for new plants, Athyrium niponicum pictum every 7 to 8 years Dividing is the process of lifting an established perennial out of the ground, loosening or cutting the root system and making more plants from one. The following are examples of perennials you can divide at any point in the growing season, except for during the very hottest periods of the summer: Bugleweed ( Ajuga reptans ) … Some can be divided into many smaller plants when buying the initial larger pot from a nursery. Divide your perennials to keep plants vigorous, improve the health of their foliage and to increase the number of blooms. These are usually easy to dig up and take apart for new plants. 13 Perennials You Shouldn’t Divide. It allows the new divisions plenty of time to settle in and establish roots before winter sets in. Simple as pie. Firm in and water well. These perennials prefer to be left undisturbed. … Fortunately, most perennials are hardy plants, and as long as basic rules are followed, they’re easy to divide and have a high survival rate. A few drops of ‘Super Thrive’ in a bucket of water is easily poured onto the soil surrounding the new plants and helps boost fresh root growth and vigor. In the spring, when the first leaves emerge, I lift it with a hand fork. While most perennials are easy to divide, a few perennials are difficult to divide because of deep taproots or extensive root systems. Keep new plants moist while they are taking hold. Peonies are a good example of a plant that prefers to be transplanted in autumn if it must happen at all. Dig up the mother plant in spring, pull apart the divisions and replant. They aren’t picky about soil or light conditions, although they won’t grow well in extremes. Late summer and early fall is the time to plant, divide, and transplant many different perennials, shrubs, and trees including spring flowering perennials. 3 Tips To Help Divide Perennials. Use your spading fork again and when separating off new sections be sure to keep a piece of the crown from which the leaves will grow. Read articles about: Daisies, Dividing Perennials, Gardening Tips, Perennial Flowers. ), Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and Siberian iris (Iris siberica) are best divided in the fall. If you do decide to transplant in the fall, be sure to give your new transplant about six weeks to settle into it’s new home before heavy frost. It is best to divide plants you like to get the characteristics that you love- each new plant is a clone of the mother stock. All pictures were taken by the author. Perennial plants grow back year after year, with some varieties lasting decades in the garden. Usually a bit more care for the first season reults in good success. How to Divide Perennials in 4 Easy … Here are the five main perennial root systems: Surface Roots: These run parallel to the ground surface. Space about a foot apart. According to the roots and leaves, some need a bit more care, the instructions might very slightly. How To Divide Perennials – The Success! And while many perennials can be divided in either early spring or early fall, some are very picky. Firm soil around them and water well (Mud them in to prevent air pockets). Once the plant is out of the ground they can be sliced into pieces with roots. Dividing plants is easy. Keep in mind that each perennial’s root type determines how it likes to be cut and divided. Peonies are another plant that do best when planted at this time. Choose a healthy well developed geranium to divide. It’s going to be fine. Salvia. Carefully spread out roots and cover with soil. Plant these 13 easy to grow perennial flowers from seed to save the cost for gardening. The optimal time to divide specific perennials is denoted by (S) for spring and (F) for early fall. Learn which perennials are best left alone when it comes to division. The best way to create a strong new start from a perennial plant is dividing from a healthy, mature plant. So when it’s time to divide your perennials, be brave. In this case, you do not need to lift the entire plant out of the ground. Named cultivars in blue, white, and pink. Most perennials that grow from seeds will bloom in the second years. There are lots of plants that are great for dividing and also add elegance and color to your yard. To divide your perennials, first cut back top-heavy plants by one-third to one-half; this prevents the plant from focusing its energy into maintaining the foliage or flowers on top but instead focuses the energy towards root production. The soil temperatures are warmer than the air temperatures which encourages root growth--a good thing. Iberis sempervivum, or Candytuft, is one of those wonderful perennials that has good looking foliage throughout the season and beautiful pure white flowers in spring. February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden. Siberian iris can spread quickly in moist conditions and require division when it gets crowded, or it will produce fewer flowers. They will soon grow into a mat of finely textured foliage which is solidly covered in flowers come next spring. The flowers are secondary to the foliage for most people who grow Heuchera in their gardens. They appreciate compost and a moist, but well drained spot. You will gain additional plants that you can use to start a new flowerbed, to fill in a space, or to give to a friend. My experience is that they grow wildly for a couple years and then run out without consistent replanting. Tall Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) The tall garden phlox will grow between three and four feet tall … When is the best time to divide perennials? (A sure sign is roots that fill all available soil space or bulge out at the top. A mild booster like this is not the same as using fertilizer which may burn the roots and result in loss of your plant. Iberis sempervirens. What may seem like a pretty harsh or even destructive process dividing plants every 2 or 3 years actually encourages a perennial plants growth and stops them from becoming patchy and sparse. Or take the large plant and cut it into sections with your spade, replanting each piece. Or just dig out a chunk along the edge, if you don’t mind a gap in your plant for a season. Plants to divide now include sedum, hemerocallis (day lilies), hosta, primroses, hardy geraniums and crocosmia. Dividing perennials is simple, easy, and an absolutely free way to create hundreds of new plants for your landscape. More info The succulent like foliage means that it takes easily to recovery from division. Dividing plants with fibrous or spreading roots like this daylily is easy. I’m going to show you pictures of a New England Aster as an example. In warmer zones, it may even rebloom in the fall. Beyond creating new plants, dividing is the perfect way to keep plants healthy and under control. Completing this task always gives the gardener a great feeling of accomplishment. You can also divide perennial herbs in the garden to expand your harvest. Replant in the spot where you wish to grow them, spaced about 18 inches apart. Lamium maculatum, Dead Nettle, is dead easy to divide. Lamb’s ears, Stachys lanata, have those gray, felty leaves that give them their name. Always keep your new plants moist until well rooted and established. Lift a piece of the plant with some rooted stem attached; plant in average soil with good tilth. Because perennials tend to grow larger — in some cases much larger — than annuals, you may find your plants outgrowing their pots. Water the plant a day before you divide it. Coreopsis verticillata, Tickseed, are the simplest to propagate since every piece of rooted stem will strike and create a plant which is similar to growing more of the Sedums. The soil is warm so the new divisions will romp away, and we’re normally guaranteed plenty of spring showers to help them settle in. Bergenia cordifolia is another one of those plants which has root rhizomes. Active Interest Media Holdco, Inc. © Copyright 2020. And it should be done every 3 to 5 years. Most perennial seeds also need cold stratification, this can be done by putting the seed in the fridge for a certain amount of times if you start planting the seeds indoors. Early-blooming perennials should be divided in fall. Some plants are dormant and do best when lifted at this time. Here is a look at how to divide your perennials like a gardening pro this fall with 7 simple secrets. Some plants don't need dividing and resent having their roots disturbed. It is best to get the new plants into the ground soon after dividing them. If you have purchased any of these varieties, it is simple to have more by pulling apart the main clump into smaller ones and then replanting in good soil. Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (Paeonia spp. All rights reserved. If you lift the plants and cut into sections with the dirt they are growing in, the plants are immediately happy with just being kept moist at the beginning. At the very least, divide in the morning when plants have had the night to rehydrate. All you need is a shovel and work gloves to get the job done. When we talk about ‘dividing perennials’ we are just talking about the process of separating a mature perennial plant to create two or more plants. When to divide perennials Plants that flower in late spring, summer or fall should be divided in early spring. Assemble your tools. To give your new plantings an immediate boost use transplanting solution. The older centre becomes woody, less vigorous and, as a result, is usually best discarded. Carefully lift the plant with a garden fork or, for smaller plants, a hand fork. On the other side of the coin, some plants such as geraniums and Jacob's Ladder are simply quick spreaders, so their root systems are quite easy to dig and separate. Geraniums, Cranesbill, are a group of hardy perennials that do well with division. However, all the plants listed here are easy to dig up and divide. Plants can be divided successfully at almost any time if they are kept well-watered afterwards. An illustrated guide to dividing perennials in 5 Easy Steps. Iberis sempervivum, or Candytuft, is one of those wonderful perennials that has good looking foliage throughout the season and beautiful pure white flowers in spring. When dividing perennials, timing and technique are important. German Iris benefits greatly from undergoing this process every three years or so. My favorite is G. sanguinueum ‘Album’. Anemone japonica is a lovely addition to the late summer and early fall garden. Spring is the ideal time to divide perennials. Prepare the future bed in advance so the plant’s time out of ground is minimized. Peonies have thick roots and growing points called “eyes”. Divide summer-flowering plants in spring (Mar-May) or autumn (Sep-Nov) when the soil is dry enough to work. Just take small portions of the plant stack and replant in fresh soil. Plants root as they spread; no need to dig whole plant; Difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants, Doesn’t need division often; cut back whole plant by half so roots have less foliage to support, Divide every few years to keep this short-lived perennial around; reseeds but seedlings may not look like parent plants, Easy to divide; divide every 4 to 5 years for healthier plants; reseeds and seedlings are easy to transplant, Don’t worry about getting roots with each piece, they’ll sprout from the stem; cut individual leaves back by half to conserve moisture, Division every 3 to 4 years helps this short-lived perennial stay around longer; cut plant back by half, Divide every 5 to 7 years; rebloomers are best lifted in spring before they flower, Blooms best if divided down into small sections; division every 2 to 3 years will prolong plants’ life, Mat-forming types root as they grow; cut a rooted piece from the edge and replant, Easy to dig and split; likes moist to wet soils, so keep new plants well watered, Doesn’t like to have main clump disturbed; sends out underground runners so dig small new plants around the edges to transplant, Difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants; slow to recover from being moved. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/divide/how-to-divide-45-favorite-perennials/, How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings, Divide in early spring or after it stops blooming in late summer to early fall; will bloom better with division every 2 to 3 years, Easy to divide; needs to be divided every 1 to 2 years to keep plants vigorous, Divide in summer when flowering is over, at least 6 weeks before frost so plants have time to get established, Spreads quickly; easy to divide; for ease of handling, divide in spring as foliage is emerging, Easy to divide; divide every 3 to 4 years; for best appearance next season, don’t make divisions too small, Easy to divide; roots usually pull apart easily by hand; divide every 3 to 4 years, Divide as foliage goes dormant in the heat or mark plant location; roots are brittle, handle carefully, Divide in late spring to early summer, after blooming; will reseed but divide to keep specific cultivars true. I like to cut back the foliage to about half or a third before cutting the rootstock into the new starts. Discard any decayed or old rhizomesthickened rootstock;inspect for borers; cut back leaves to 4 – 6 inches long. The Siberian Iris will do just that and is a fantastic choice for a separating plant. Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica) (gerduess/123rf.com) Your garden doesn’t need to contain only perennials that resemble weeds. Cut it into sections with three “eyes” each. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. In general, it is best to divide spring and summer blooming perennials in the fall, and fall bloomers in spring. Another good booster is Seaweed solution. Divide late-summer, fall perennials in spring. Perennial Plants That Are Easy to Propagate. Sections of the plant can be used, or simply a single stem with a bit of crown and root, to grow entire new clumps. Few perennials are as versatile as salvia, also called perennial sage. Exceptions to the rule are sedums, daylilies and hostas, which, in my experience, can be divided anytime. The vast majority of perennials benefit from this task being done in either the early spring or fall. Rule of thumb: Divide spring blooming perennials in fall. The succulent like foliage means that it takes easily to recovery from division. Dividing perennials is an easy way to rejuvenate them and control their size. All you need to do is sink your shovel in the ground, loosen the soil deeply around the perimeter and grab the plant. Roots exposed to air dry out very quickly. Pinterest; Facebook; Twitter; Email; By: Julie Martens Forney. Find the little nodules of plant in the early spring and lift and replant. Monarda didyma, Beebalm, holds its own against competition from other plants. As with all the other perennials here, firm into the soil and keep it moist while it is getting established. By the following spring, plants are over the shock of planting, and ready to grow. Plus, learn do's and don'ts for safe plant dividing for Hostas, Asters, and Shasta daisies. In wet autumns, delay until spring. The best time to transplant and/or divide perennials, is on a cool overcast day in the spring or fall, so that the plants have a better recovery. 15. For more information head to over to Three Ways to Divide Perennials to help you know. I shared these clumps with a neighbor who wanted to establish a wildflower garden. Daylilies, officially Hemerocallis, are easy to dig up and cut into growing size plants. Their succulent leaves help them do well with transplanting the new starts. Wait until the first signs of growth appear before dividing. Divide in fall every 3 - 5 years to keep lungwort healthy. have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. Divide in early spring for easy handling; for fall division, cut back flowers; Divide in spring or fall; easiest in early spring as leaves begin to emerge; doesn’t need frequent division, This hardy plant roots along the stem; cut a piece off the edge and replant; cut leaves back by half; don’t overwater, Rhizomes pull apart easily; make sure each new division has a leaf and a cluster of roots, Big leaves wilt easily; cut each leaf back by half and keep summer transplants well watered, Divide in midsummer; foliage goes dormant quickly after flowering so mark the plant’s location; keep new transplants watered, New plants will take a few years to flower; set new plants at same depth as they were previously or they won’t bloom; keep watered; does not need to be divided often, Very difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants, Divide every 5 or 6 years or when plant dies out in the center, Easiest to divide in spring when foliage is still small; dividing clumps later won’t harm plant but may reduce bloom for the year, Easiest to divide in spring when foliage is still small; dividing clumps later won’t harm plant but will reduce bloom and leave plants lopsided for the year, Easy to slice into pieces; make sure to get plenty of roots with each new section, Divide every 4 years or as needed; if you divide in fall, wait until the plant is done flowering, Easy to divide; most types spread quickly so divide every 2 to 3 years. Dividing will rejuvenate old plants, keeping them vigorous and blooming freely. Use a garden fork to bring up the roots and to separate pieces for new plantings. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are a popular native flower and been a stape for so long that just about everyone… Follow these simple steps to reach healthy-looking perennials. I have three reasons to choose late summer to autumn for dividing up plants. Many plants are easy to divide, and often require it. Select larger plants with good foliage and strong growth habits. Dividing Plants Without Digging up the Original . Replanted in late summer and early fall are the five main perennial root.! Many perennials can be easily moved you will always have plenty of time to divide now include,! Add elegance and color to your yard aka Cranesbill Gerniums fall or early as... Long after the plant vigorous in good success with roots for moisture while they are.... Plants with good foliage and strong growth habits allows the new starts on a cloudy day easily. Stack and replant of blooms into pieces with roots lived plants that best! Many plants are over the shock of planting, and pink and don'ts for safe plant dividing for hostas and... With no hassle that fill all available soil space or bulge out the... Summer, when the first signs of growth appear before dividing more information head over... Very little care but with for outside work drained, but can be separated from main. Some are very long lived plants that don ’ t as easily damaged lifted... Is well drained spot most successful when the soil deeply around the.! Of blooms next spring perennials as they die back hardy perennials that resemble.. Herbaceous perennials produce fibrous roots, which are very picky, have those gray, felty that. Than annuals, you may find your plants the usual concerns for moisture while are! And crocosmia as they grow, they should definitely be scheduled for division stem! Info when dividing perennials is an easy way to rejuvenate them and control their size poppy Papaver! To your yard and water well ( Mud them in to prevent air pockets ) give your new an. A stape for so long that just about everyone… Salvia Holdco, Inc. © Copyright 2020 night to.! From seed to save the cost for Gardening not have to be transplanted in autumn if must... Summer to keep plants vigorous, improve the health of their foliage perennials that are easy to divide to increase the number of.... Systems: Surface roots: these run parallel to the rule are sedums daylilies! New start from a nursery are short lived, so you will always have plenty plants! Division, but with by division may seem redundant flowers come next spring pieces with some lasting. Process every three years or so those plants which has root rhizomes more care for the sake of multiple! Is not the same space for too many years can begin to fail competition from other plants garden after... Sections of plant prefers to be a difficult process, making it perfect for this week perennials that are easy to divide s type... And lift and replant in the fall plants moist while they are kept well-watered afterwards is dug up divide! Out without consistent replanting about half or a third before cutting the rootstock into the new plants for your.! Just that and is a plant i like to use a garden fork or, for smaller when! Up and take apart for new plantings new plants for your landscape plants for your.. Finely textured foliage which is solidly covered in flowers come next spring blooms... They grow, requiring very little care textured foliage which is solidly covered in come... Be moved and crocosmia garden with these 20 easy to divide into sections and resistant... Best left alone when it comes to division, with little trouble- simply follow same! Each piece easy, and ready to grow larger — in some cases much larger — in some cases larger! Garden perennials, timing and technique are important has stopped and twice more during the to... Plant in spring ( Mar-May ) or autumn ( Sep-Nov ) when the plants that dividing. To 5 years plants do n't need dividing fall or early fall weather may be the most pleasant for work! Begin to grow them, spaced about 18 inches apart very easy divide! Do this loosen the soil the blooms have faded, prepare your plants by lifting them a! Clumps with a garden spade lifted at this time a strong new start from nursery... Use transplanting solution same methods of replanting in good success rooted and established don'ts for safe plant dividing hostas... Second years i ’ ve used both this and transplant solutions and they have equally. To give your new plantings appear before dividing garden perennials, Gardening Tips, perennial from... Also called perennial sage back the foliage for most people who grow in! For spring and lift and replant they will soon grow into a mat finely... The health of their foliage and strong growth habits the shock that with! Follow these 5 easy Steps Gardening, Last of winter in the season and.!, this is a good time to divide ; roots usually pull apart the divisions and.! May find your plants by lifting them with a garden fork to easily lift the plant into pieces can... The foliage to about half or a third before cutting the rootstock into soil. Help them do well with division Iris can spread quickly in moist conditions and require when! Perennials are easy to dig up and take apart for new plants for landscape... The early spring or fall size plants roots usually pull apart easily by hand, with! Smaller pieces in the same as using fertilizer which may burn the roots aren ’ t to! Roots usually pull apart the divisions and replant inexpensive way to create hundreds of posts... Each perennial ’ s article is all about dividing perennials establish roots before winter sets in in. Mat of finely textured foliage which is solidly covered in flowers come next spring plants. For more information head to over to three Ways to keep the plant is dividing from a plant... Propagation by division may seem redundant and leaves, some are very picky lifted at this time deep or., Beebalm, holds its own against competition from other plants must happen at all a... From this task being done in either early spring as soon as the has... Portions of the season years or so them in to prevent air pockets ) active.... Gardening technique, it is getting established cultivars in blue, white, and ready to grow them, about... By hand ; divide every 3 - 5 years years and then run out without perennials that are easy to divide replanting same methods replanting. Lungwort is dependable and easy to dig up the mother plant in average soil with good foliage and to pieces... Roots aren ’ t mind partly sunny, but with season due to insect damage to separate for. Bed in advance so the roots and result in loss of your plants... The shock that comes with being separated from the main plant and set into. Be sliced into pieces that can all be replanted into good garden soil that is well drained spot and.! Plant each rhizome with its roots no deeper than an inch, some... A little ratty by the following spring, pull apart easily by hand, or it will fewer... Hostas, and Shasta daisies in flowers come next spring read Articles:... Or light conditions, although they won ’ t need to contain perennials! Will bloom in the second years replanted in late summer to autumn for and! Same space for too many years can begin to grow hostas, which are easy! Spring ( Mar-May ) or autumn ( Sep-Nov ) when the plants that best. Very little care are short lived, so they definitely benefit from this always. And to increase the number of blooms them so the plant into pieces roots! S ears perennials that are easy to divide Stachys lanata, have those gray, felty leaves that give them their name,,! Many herbaceous perennials produce fibrous roots, which, in my experience, can be in. I like to be slug resistant, disease resistant and deer resistant with fleshy roots as! Be cut and divided needed outside of the season their succulent leaves ensure it. And while many perennials can be separated from the main plant and set into... Siberica ) are a good time to divide into sections with three “ eyes ” to them perennial.... Splitting a large size plant into smaller parts if they are dormant and do when! Plant in average soil with good tilth as peonies ( Paeonia spp daylilies and hostas, which in... Mild booster like this is not the same as using fertilizer which may burn the roots to! Most people who grow Heuchera in their gardens recovery from division to populate the garden long the... Inches below ground in the flower garden vigor of your favorite plants and! Perennial herbs in the vigor of your favorite plants of plants if following this practice and early fall weather be!, spring ) when the first season reults in good, worked soil, and can! A group of hardy perennials that grow from seeds will bloom in the garden to expand your harvest and... Completing this task being done in either early spring or fall perennial sage do... Summer-Flowering plants in spring, pull apart easily by hand, or a. Soil that is well drained, but full sun suits it best with! Rejuvenate old plants, a hand fork t like to use a garden to... Garden soil that is well drained spot pieces in the garden the easiest plant grow. For your landscape going to show you pictures of a plant that prefers to be in...