Restricted airflow can lead to diseases. Condiment perennials can also be divided … Dividing the plants into smaller sections reduces this competition and stimulates new growth as well as more vigorous blooming. All rights reserved. These homebodies include peonies and tree peonies, foxtail lilies, bleeding hearts, goatsbeard and butterfly milkweed. How to divide. This plant grows bigger and bigger every year and is a great option for dividing into multiple, smaller plants. All rights reserved. 1992. However, just as different plants can go different lengths of time before being divided, some plants, such as peonies, do better when divided in the early fall. For more information head to over to Three Ways to Divide Perennials to help you know. Spring and autumn are the recommended times, as those are the seasons when plants tend to establish new roots. Fall-blooming perennials are to be divided in spring, usually in April. 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. Root systems like those of Ajuga can be divided by hand, whereas others may require a sharp knife. Advertisement Dividing involves splitting an established plant into several pieces, each of which has a section of the roots. In addition, perennials often increase in size each year, which means they can often be divided … Renew and Refresh Perennial Flowers Over time, most perennials need to be divided. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. This is particularly important in colder, northern climates. The difference is that some perennials, such as peonies, can go more than a decade without being divided, while others, such as chrysanthemums or ornamental grasses, like to be dug and separated every couple of years. Most plants are divided in either the early spring or fall, but some plants can be divided at any time in the year. Gardening with Perennials Month by Month. Ideally, divide plants when there are a couple days of showers in the forecast to provide enough moisture for the new transplants. You can leave the foliage in tact to help shelter the new plants as they re-establish their roots. Similarly, most bulbs reproduce by forming clusters of new bulbs which you can divide in exactly the same way that you divide colony-forming perennials. Division is an easy and inexpensive way to increase the number of plants in your garden. Each division should have three to five vigorous shoots and a healthy supply of roots. When is the best time to divide a bunch? Perennials are plants that grow back each year. Dividing or splitting a single perennial into multiple plants helps the plant perform better. Rain showers that generally come along with the early season are helpful. © Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (. Hosta. Some perennials that do best when divided in the fall include garden peony, garden phlox, bearded iris, Siberian iris, and Asiatic lily. 10 Perennials You can Divide or Transfer 1. Dividing perennials can help manage the size of the plant. When perennials are divided, there is more space for roots to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Keep in mind that each perennial’s root type determines how it likes to be cut and divided. Dividing Additional Perennials For nearly all other perennials, begin by cutting any spent blooms and stems back to the ground base. Don’t forget spring bulbs, which can be lifted and prised apart as the foliage dies down. The hosta plant is extremely hardy and very easy to keep alive. Most perennials can be divided every two to three years. Clump-forming perennials, such as hardy geraniums, can be divided if you want more plants, or if the clump is overgrown – it can help to rejuvenate them and keep them flowering well. 1994. Gardening Perennials Plants Lupine (Lupinus Popsicle Series Mixed) In areas with cool summers, lupines are a prized perennial that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Growing landscapes to help bees and other pollinators. Since plants grow at varying rates, division may be used to keep plants that spread rapidly under control. Generally speaking, crown division is performed after flowering. Division works best on perennials that grow into colonies — groups where each new plant develops its own set of roots and leaves. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we 2011. When dividing plants in the fall, time it for four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants roots to become established. Nau, Jim. There is less gardening work to do in the fall compared with spring. Perennials that have occupied the same space for too many years can begin to fail. Alternately you can take a spade and try to chop off a section and leave a portion of the plant in its place. Beyond creating new plants, dividing is the perfect way to keep plants healthy and under control. Regents of the University of Minnesota. Plants that have multiplied into big clumps can take over and compete with others for moisture and nutrients in the soil. 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. Encyclopedia of Perennials: A Gardener's Guide. Start at the drip line. The rest of my perennials I started dividing purely by accident. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Dividing or splitting a single perennial into multiple plants helps the plant perform better. Preparing for Division Although dividing perennials is good for the plants in the long run, it's still a shock to their system. Late summer and early fall is the time to plant, divide, and transplant many different perennials, shrubs, and trees including spring flowering perennials. These are just a few examples of plants that can be divided: Agapanthus, Anemone, Aster, Bergenia (elephant’s ears), Convallaria (lily-of-the-valley) Crocosmia, Dierama, Delphinium, Epimedium, Eryngium (sea holly), Euphorbia, Gentiana (gentian) Geranium, Helianthus, Hemerocallis (daylily), Hosta, Iris, Lychnis, Lysichiton, Lysimachia, ornamental grasses, Primula (primrose) Ranunculus (buttercup), … “Usually, the plants let you know when they need to be divided,” said Brister, “OR if your friends want some of your plants, then divide away!” Healthy plants do their best to stick around. 1998. Knowing the time is near, you may ask, “How do I know when my perennials are ready to divide?” There a few tell-tale signs to look for that will help you know when to divide. All other flowering plants in your garden butterfly milkweed a portion of the roots ( or fall... Is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions perennials I dividing. 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