I thought it might be fun to ride the wave of perennials that we started last week and continue on with another timely discussion, dividing and transplanting. Think of it this way… how do you get more bang for your buck from these hardy garden treasures? By dividing them of course! It is super easy to do and you are simply multiplying your plants by doing this, procuring fresh and free offspring from the mother specimen. It is also the perfect time to move any clumps of perennials around your yard that you’ve been meaning to. Perhaps if you are OCD like me, some need to be shifted just a little to the right or left, or maybe even moved entirely to a more suitable new location. Just like hanging pieces of art on the walls in your home, it is important to find those prime spots for that outdoor artwork too, i.e. your perennials.
With all of the possible options to cover, I will do my best to speak on some useful practices that I employ with common perennials. First and foremost, you should evaluate what needs to be divided. Ultimately that is up to a discussion between you and your perennials, but please listen to them. Are they crowded and need more sun and air circulation? Did they lack blooms the past season? Are they fighting a disease of any kind? All good reasons to dig in and have at it, for sure. The goal with all transplanting and division is to keep as many roots as possible intact when digging and watch for the proper amount of eyes/shoots on the surface (crown).
Like with all gardening projects, make your life easier by getting the right tools for the job. When dividing perennials, a sharp shovel, soil knife and/or a Hori Hori will come in handy. If you want my super-secret shovel, look for the ‘Root Slayer’ brand from Radius Tools. This wonderfully ergonomic tool makes digging and dividing much easier, especially with tougher clumps. I will warn you though, be careful where you chop as the sharp tip and serrated edges can do some damage to fingers and toes. Compost is another “tool” to have on hand, perfect for amending your new perennials. Finally, a superior organic transplant food like 'Sure Start’ from EB Stone Organics should be sprinkled at the base of each hole and around the roots on the perimeter to help your plants avoid shock and get re-established. I almost forgot one last thing, make sure your new divisions go back into the ground as soon as possible at the same level they were planted at previously. Ensuring they do not sink in too low (resulting in a buried crown) is essential to success.
As far as timing, all of the plants I mention below can be done anytime during the fall until spring. Many of these can even happen in late summer to early fall, before frost. Cooler temperatures and regular rainfall always helps, and newsflash, we have plenty of both at the moment. Remember that the earlier yours are done means roots establish quicker and plants bounce back immediately, optimizing their garden performance next year.
Peonies: In all honesty, a properly planted Peony should thrive for roughly 50 years without division. But having said that, they are also an expensive perennial purchase and if you simply want more Peony love, division does this for free. Make sure your divisions are done soon, have 4 eyes or so and ample roots.
Irises: These all grow from rhizomes (bulbs) and are very shallow. Lack of blooms on crowded patches is very common, as well as disease. Digging and dividing them in fall is easy and will allow them to both thrive and maximize future flowering. Every 3 to 4 years is ideal for dividing almost all species of Iris.
Daylilies: This is another vigorous perennial that will benefit from division every 5 years or so. Large clumps will give you many starts, just make sure that they have healthy roots and 3 shoots of foliage. In most yards these tend to be very crowded, remember that more space for them means fresh healthy growth resulting in a serious improvement on flower power.
Hostas: One of the easier plants to divide, and by doing so you will see bolder, larger foliage and more blooms for the hummingbirds. Be careful with all of the eyes on the soil surface though and ensure your divisions have adequate roots and at least 3 eyes each.
Poppies: I am bringing this one up as an example of a perennial that is a little bit tougher to divide. These (and other similar species) develop a pretty good tap root. Digging deeper with Poppies is essential to success, taking care to keep this tap root intact. Then split the crowns carefully with a knife before quickly getting them back into the ground.
Black Eyed Susans: Flavors of Rudbeckia are easy candidates to dig up and divide – I do mine every three years or so. As they get crowded, you will see a decline in flowering, letting you know that it is time to divide. You should get a bazillion little starts out of an old clump and planting them with room and fresh soil means that they will thrive into the future.
Coneflowers: They are some of the most popular perennials these days and the fall season is a great time to divide them. With almost all flavors of Echinacea, they will start to lack flowers once crowded and often the center of old clumps will die out. Dividing and planting them in well-drained soil is a perfect way to rejuvenate these plants every 3 to 4 years.
I could go on and on about the plethora of perennials we get to enjoy in our local gardens, like Shasta Daisies, Bleeding Hearts, Hardy Geraniums, Astilbes, Coreopsis, Ligularia, Yarrow, Goldenrod and so many more that can all be easily moved and/or divided this time of year.
With hard frosts on the horizon and the dormant season approaching, walkabout your garden and see what might be in need of some dividing this fall, winter or early next spring. My hope is that you can see the value of getting more bang for your buck with perennials. Whether you are sharing some with gardening friends, donating extra divisions to local non-profit gardens or simply making more for your own oasis, it is time to get transplanting and dividing. Stop into your local garden center to seek advice and even pick up useful tools, compost and organic starter fertilizer to help you achieve success. Allow a Certified Professional Horticulturist to help guide you in deciding when and what to divide or even move. This is no time to be timid, grab a sharp shovel and dig in! Plants are resilient creatures and by keeping some of the basics in mind you can easily achieve multiplication by division with your own perennials this winter.
