Things You'll Need:
- Trowel
- Digging fork
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Step 1
Water your spring flowerbed thoroughly and cut back any remaining growth to about 1 inch. Give stems and roots about 3 days to absorb the water.
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Step 2
Select a location for the new transplants and dig holes. Anything you can do to reduce the amount of time the roots are out of the ground helps prevent spring flowers from going into shock.
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Step 3
Using a trowel, dig a square around the outside of the spring flower structure. Dig down until you're just below the root. Digging straight down is the best way to avoid dividing the root structure.
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Step 4
Use a digging fork to lift the entire root out of the ground. Tap the clump a few times on the side of your trowel to shake off excess soil.
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Step 5
Use a sharp knife to divide the roots into sections. If the bulb looks like an artichoke, you can break off individual sections with your hands. If you cut the root or tuber, make sure that each division includes an eye, or a piece of the original root stem.
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Step 6
Plant the new root divisions in the ground as quickly as possible. Make sure they're roughly as deep in the ground as they were before you uprooted them.
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Step 7
Pack a layer of new soil around the new plant bed. Add some compost to the mix if you think the roots need more nutrients to thrive.
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Step 8
Water the area immediately to help set the soil. Don't add any fertilizer to the area until the spring when flowers begin to bloom.
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Step 9
Pick up some small tags at your local garden center and mark the area so you know what to expect when flowers bloom in the spring.
