Fall-blooming perennials are to be divided in spring, usually in April. By Steven A. Frowine, The National Gardening Association . However, division is most successful when the plants are not in active growth. 222879/SC038262, Lift plants gently with a garden fork, working outwards from the crown’s centre to limit root damage. Most perennials benefit from division every two to three years to maintain health and vigour. The second-best time to divide your perennials is early fall. In early Spring when new foliage and shoots emerge, and in early Fall. Here’s a bit of perennial information. There is evidence that maintaining the ‘chains’ intact may be the better option, Discard wizened or diseased corms and trim old leaves, Hostas with tough, fibrous roots can be divided with a sharp spade, slicing the clump in two, Large clumps can be split further to leave sections containing five or six shoots, Cultivars with loose, fleshy roots are best teased apart by hand or with two hand tools by placing them back-to-back to lever them in two, Plant the divided sections at their original depth, with the shoots above the soil surface. It is also worth carrying out slug and snails control as these are often problematic pests for 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), Salvia, Sedum, Verbena, Zantedeschia (arum lily). You know when yours need to be divided because the plants are growing in ever-denser clumps and the flower show isn’t … Carefully lift the plant with a garden fork or, for smaller plants, a hand fork. This is because some plants prefer to undergo the … You may divide perennials simply to produce new plants to place elsewhere in your garden, to give away to friends or family, or even to sell. However, ensure that plants don’t dry out while they do re-establish. Spring and autumn are the ideal times to lift and divide many perennial plants. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD. the reason simply being, that there were too many other gardening tasks of … Divide perennials. Slice downwards all the way around the edge, then gently lever the plant up and out. Need plants or gardening kit? In this article we'll be looking at the five key steps to divide perennials in your garden. Visit our directory of suppliers. And dividing will increase the vigour of the plants for better flowering. When to Divide Perennials Perennials have generally been divided in the autumn, but early spring is just as good if not better! They can either be replanted in the same spot, taking the opportunity to mix in a little garden compost or other soil improver first, or moved to a new part of the garden. Generally speaking, crown division is performed after flowering. Wait until nights are cool and your plants are starting to prepare for winter. Granted it might take three years or so to settle down properly, but depending on the size of the division it is possible to have flowers the following season. Here's how we divide herbaceous perennials. However, it is worth noting that crocosmias flower profusely when crowded, so do not divide clumps too often – every two or three years should be enough. One large clump can be divided into several new plants. You don't have to wait until your perennial plants begin looking like doughnuts—in fact, it's better if you don't. In fact, division is the easiest way to vegetatively propagate many perennials. Plants to divide now include sedum, hemerocallis (day lilies), hosta, primroses, hardy geraniums and crocosmia. When is the best time to divide a bunch? Dividing the plants into smaller sections reduces this competition and stimulates new growth as well as more vigorous blooming. When perennials are divided, there is more space for roots to grow and can increase plant health. Choose a healthy well developed geranium to divide. ... Once you've got the root ball out, it's time to divide the plant. Alternatively, if it’s a large clump, you can just use the spade to slice portions out of it in situ. 020 3176 5800 Perennials like this lungwort can be divided for extra plants or to improve the health of the plant. Inside, you will find invaluable practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers. If it flowers after Midsummer’s Day you should divide in spring, just as the growth re-shoots. Or simply divide them for the sake of having multiple of your favorite plants! Spring is the ideal time to divide perennials. Plants can be divided successfully at almost any time if they are kept well-watered afterwards. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens: English Garden of the Week, Illuminated gardens to visit this Christmas, Best fruit for small gardens: rootstocks & varieties, Bare-root roses: Growing tips and variety recommendations, Lockdown Lectures: online gardening talks, In pictures: IGPOTY reveals beautiful winning nature photographs, English Garden Of The Week – Dunham Massey, Pot up a stylish, seasonal white container. Divide your perennials to keep plants vigorous, improve the health of their foliage and to increase the number of blooms. While spring is, generally speaking, the best time for dividing perennials, ornamental grasses, and grass-like plants such as sedges, those who really wish to "get it right" will want to treat each plant on a case by case basis. When this happens, the growth around the edge often flops outwards if it isn’t staked. When to divide perennials. Dividing a large clump of perennials into smaller individual plants that can be spread out or shared with friends is a great way to rejuvenate a perennial garden. As an added bonus, when you divide perennials you normally end up with more plants than you need, so it’s a great way to increase your stock of a plant. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Summer-blooming perennials must be divided in fall. Spring is the ideal time to divide perennials. If you do it in the summer or the winter, you’ll probably subject the plant to too much hot dry weather or cold, wet soil. Replant the sections in weed-free, well-cultivated soil, so they’re at the same depth they were before. Either will stress it. All the young, healthy growth is around the outside, forming a doughnut shape with an ugly bare patch in the middle. Unlike growing from seed, the new plants are guaranteed to be identical to the parent plant. It also offers the opportunity to multiply your plants. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. See techniques on how to divide perennials to increase the number of healthy plants. Divide your plants every 3-5 years after planting them. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Divide Perennials: Step 1 When to move and divide a peony. Perennials will send signals to let you know that they would like to be divided. Some perennials, like iris and peony, are best divided in … It depends on the plant and variety. Periodically lifting and dividing the plant every few years, replanting portions taken from the outside and discarding the old parts from the centre keeps the plant full of vigour. RHS Find a PlantRHS Video: Dividing perennials, Join The … In general, you should only divide a plant when it has been healthy and growing in its garden location for at least two years (but usually longer) AND if it is starting to get too big for its current location. Condiment perennials can also be divided in spring. And it should be done every 3 to 5 years. The autumn divisions were practiced in the large garden estates, and this became the norm. Fall or early Spring as they begin to grow is a good time to do this. Autumn division not only makes new plants, it … EDITORIAL The traditional time to divide perennials. Typically, fall is the best time of the year to divide perennials. This is especially true in areas where fall is rainy, and temperatures are mild enough that the soil doesn’t freeze until December. Perennials tend to grow outwards from the centre, which means that eventually the centre of their clump becomes old and woody. Dividing stachys. To lift a perennial with minimal root damage, begin digging at its drip line. Likewise, dieramas resent disturbance and will take time to flower again after division. Perennial plants will often spread as they mature. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries Perennial plants are happiest, healthiest and most productive (which means more flowers and growth!) Some may need division every 3-5 years, some 8-10 years and some would rather you not bother them at all. There is no set rule as to when to divide perennials. This allows the transplants to establish their roots long before the following winter’s frosts. Cut summer growth down to between 15cm and 30cm (6 and 12 inches) above the plant and loosen the soil around the plants you want to divide. Dividing Perennials. Once the clump is out of the soil, use the spade to cut it into smaller portions. Potted up and grown on in a sheltered spot or cold frame, these new plants … Shake off excess soil so that roots are clearly visible, Large, fibrous-rooted perennials, such as, In some cases, a sharp knife, axe or lawn edging iron may be needed to cleave the clump in two, To remove the corms without damage, dig down 30cm (1ft) to avoid and gently lift, The roots of both perennials form ‘chains’ of corms, which can be replanted intact or individually separated. Spring is a good time to divide and move perennials. Alternatively, pot up individually to build up size, overwintering pots in a frost-free environment. Restricted airflow can lead to diseases. Think of it as a cake you’re cutting into pieces, but don’t go too small because tiny divisions will take a long time to reestablish, and remember that each piece needs shoots and roots. How to divide a peony There are generally two safe times for dividing perennial flowers. 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. It feels brutal, but the plants soon recover as long as the divisions each have their own roots and shoots. Overcrowded plants compete for nutrients and water. However, this is not a hard and fast rule and there are some problems with late autumn division, especially in colder, wetter regions. The best time to divide perennials varies with the different plant species. times, RHS Registered Charity no. As they grow, they produce the newest, strongest growth around the edge. Keep the divisions well watered in dry springs. Use a spade to dig up the entire clump you want to divide. ADVERTISING Perennials that … The best time to divide perennials depends on what perennial you’re dividing and where you garden. In wet autumns, delay until spring. Some crocosmias, such as Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and C. × crocosmiiflora ‘Jackanapes’, produce underground stems (stolons) which can be detached, along with fibrous roots, to produce new plants. When to divide perennials. Most books and television programmes will recommend placing two garden forks back to back in the centre of the clump and pulling the handles together to separate the roots. The older centre becomes woody, less vigorous and, as a result, is usually best discarded. the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. To keep your perennial gardens healthy you need to divide several kinds of perennials periodically. Dividing perennials regularly will ensure healthy, vigorous plants that will continue to perform year after year. Knowing when to split perennials and how to divide perennials is important, but it’s also nice to understand what these fountains of youth are and how they operate. A common maintenance chore in a perennial garden is that of dividing. Here are three plants that benefit from using slight variations on the basic techniques. Keep an eye out for clumps of plants that have grown two to three times their original size within two to … However, division is most successful when the plants are not in active growth. The usual advice is divide perennials between late autumn or fall and early spring when they are (more or less) dormant. Every issue, The English Garden magazine features the most beautiful gardens from all across the UK and Ireland - both town and country plots, big and small. Moving and dividing peonies should be done in autumn once the leaves have died back. Before going into the garden and digging away at perennial plants, it’s helpful to know exactly what they are. Astrid Elsen Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly The English Gardener newsletter, bringing you all the practical gardening advice you need throughout the year. Early spring through early summer is a great time to divide most perennials. Tackle spring-blooming perennials in fall and fall bloomers in spring. This can be any time from October to February. To rejuvenate the plant and stimulate new growth. After 3-5 years, your perennials will start to crowd their planting area and make it difficult for them to receive nutrients. For small plants, push a garden fork gently into the centre of … Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. Divide summer-flowering plants in spring (Mar-May) or autumn (Sep-Nov) when the soil is dry enough to work. Plants with fibrous roots can often be pulled apart into smaller portions by hand or back-to-back forks; others (such as hostas) can need a knife or saw to cut through their solid crowns. An expert guide on how to divide perennials in your garden. Autumn division is best suited to perennials that flower in early summer. It enables the stock to i ncrease in numbers, both for better display and impact, and cheaply insure against loss through slugs, deer, excess wet or cold winter. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Sign up on the right of this article. And if you’re planning to buy new plants, many can be divided before they’re planted out, … RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team. 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. The main concern when dividing perennials is that if the flower is blooming, or about to bloom then it won’t devote as much energy to root growth. Here are our simple tips for dividing perennials: Plant divisions as soon as possible and water them in well. Once perennials have finished flowering, you can lift well-established clumps, or any plants that are starting to go bare in the centre, and divide them. You can divide perennials in spring or autumn. If you want to increase the number of plants you have by dividing them, the task can be done more regularly. There are few specific problems associated with dividing, especially if carried out between autumn and spring. RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected What Are Perennial Plants? In warm-winter areas, fall is a good time to plant perennials. Water them in well and remember to keep watering during dry spells until their roots have reestablished. Get involved. Start at the drip line. A general rule of thumb is to divide perennials after they flower. In cold-winter areas, stop fertilizing perennials by August to encourage them to slow their growth and harden off for winter. The right time to divide perennials depends on the type of plant and how quickly it's growing. Early fall is another great time to divide perennials, especially peonies. And don’t divide plants when they’re flowering. Credit: RHS/Tim Sandall. But another reason to divide perennials is to keep your garden healthy and productive. In early fall, there is less heat stress on your plants than there is at the height of summer. Plants to divide now include sedum, hemerocallis (day lilies), hosta, primroses, hardy geraniums and crocosmia. when they are young and have room to grow. Plants can be divided successfully at almost any time if they are kept well-watered afterwards. When to divide Plants should be divided when they're dormant, in late autumn or early spring. There’s stunning photography from the world’s top garden photographers, as well as insightful writing from experts. Unlike annual blooms, perennials produce new shoots every year and continue to grow larger. 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