How to Divide Alpine and Rock Plants

Alpine and rock plants are hardy perennials that grow in the demanding conditions of high altitudes. While gardeners generally won't have much success introducing new plants that aren't native to a particular alpine area, rock plants that naturally grow in the region can make an attractive addition to a garden. You can divide rock plants to extend the life of older plants and enlarge your garden without spending money at a nursery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Newspaper
• Pruning shears
• Cutting tool
• Spade
• Shovel
• Fertilizer

1. Clear the area surrounding the alpine plant you want to divide of any rocks or debris that may serve as part of your garden. You're going to need to dig a relatively wide hole to ensure that you extract the plant properly.
2. Use a spade to dig into the the immediate area around the stem of the plant. Once you have isolated the plant's stem, you can clear the remaining soil using a shovel to get the job done faster. However, it's essential to use caution and be gentle around the plant's stem.
3. Dig deep enough that you can pull out the plant, roots and all. You should allow for at least 4 inches of room on all sides of the plant, depending on its size. For larger plants, increase the diameter of the circle you dig accordingly.
4. Lift the parent plant out of the soil in its entirety, and lay it down gently on some newspaper. Locate the heart of the plant's stem, which will be bulbous in appearance in the majority of alpine-plant species.
5. Shear away any offshoots and overgrowth around the bulbous heart of the stem. Then, cut the donor plant's stem into clumps about 4 inches in diameter, dividing it multiple times if it's big enough. If the stem is only large enough to make a single division, simply isolate the heart of the stem and discard the remainder of the plant.
6. Replant the new clumps at the same depth that the donor plant's stem was at when you extracted it.
7. Cover the holes with soil and add some fertilizer, if desired. Given the rugged conditions of higher altitudes, experts recommend using fertilizer to achieve the best results.
8. Water the replanted divided alpine or rock plants generously for a period of several days. Ideally, you should check the weather forecast ahead of time--you can give your new plants a boost by planting them when several days of rain are looming in the forecast.

Tips & Warnings

• Divide alpine perennials that flower in the spring during the autumn. Conversely, you should divide autumn-flowering rock plants during the early spring.

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