Dividing Perennials And Other Plants - Tips For You

Separating perennials should be done if the plant specimen grows rapidly and spreads. One of the reasons to separate perennials and other plants such as Hostas, is to remove the older parts that will defer the plant from continuing to develop properly. There are two ways to do this process.

The first is by taking pieces away from the outer part of the plant. You will want to separate these pieces from the main plant. Take a small knife or a sharp spade and cut through the crown of the plant.

The other method is to take the plant completely out of the ground and pull or cut it apart. If you pull it apart, be careful not to damage some of the main roots. Some plants will pull apart very easily, while others have their root system in tightly intact. Your goal whether you are pulling them apart by hand or cutting them with a knife, is to have some roots and foliage on each of the plant species.

One word of caution when you are dividing perennials and other plant specimens. Don't try and get ten plants out of what should really be five. Smaller plants that have been separated, take longer to develop in the ground. It is better to have a few larger specimens so the root systems will mature properly.

The best time to separate plants is in the early spring. The one exception is plants that bloom in the springtime. Wait until the specimen is done flowering to separate. In warm climates, division of roots should be done in the fall, not the springtime. The Iris and Oriental Poppy are two plants that should be separated after they are done blooming in the summer and their color begins to change.

Big rooted plants such as Dahilias, can be a little more tricky to divide. Cut with a knife in the springtime and make sure you see an eye on each section you cut. Let each section air dry for around one half and hour before replanting in the ground. One of the keys to replanting them is to make sure the depth is the same as when you took the plant out. This process is the same when you plant new plants or are transplanting a shrub. Also, like any other newly planted specimen, watering and getting onto a water schedule is critical in allowing the roots to develop and mature properly.

An option for you to consider is to mix a liquid fertilizer with the water. Make a weak solution so you don't over fertilize each plant.

The process of separating the plants should be included in your landscape maintain program. Dividing perennials is an important part of keeping gardens not looking overgrown.

When planning your next project, do a little research on which plant specimens may need to be separated in the future. This could not only save you a little money, but will potentially give you some more options in your selection of different specimens.