How to Separate Hostas
Hostas make beautiful ground cover for shady areas of the yard, and can turn an ugly or unremarkable spot into lovely, lush greenery. A single hosta plant can grow quite large, but sometimes you might want to divide a large hosta in order to cover more ground or to create a more balanced landscape. Fortunately, dividing hostas is relatively easy to do. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Dig up the hosta plant. Using a shovel, dig down into the soil and carefully pull up the hosta completely. Avoid breaking any of the delicate roots. Lay the plant on the ground. Slice the blade of a garden spade into the root system of the hosta and push the spade into the plant, separating it into two root systems. Try to make the root distribution even when you divide the roots and soil so that each plant will have a good root base from which to grow.
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Use the spade to dig up the area where you want to replant the divided plant, and turn the earth to aerate the soil. Plant the two newly separated hostas into the soil about 14 inches apart. Make sure the soil reaches the bottom of the plant growth, covering all of the root system. Water the area well to allow the water to saturate the root area and prepare the root system for new growth. Hostas like a moist soil, so daily watering is advised to help the plants regain their original strength and vitality.
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Spread compost over the top of the ground of the newly planted hostas. The compost will deliver vital plant nutrients such as nitrogen, which will encourage new growth. Compost can be reapplied every month to make sure that the soil is as rich as the hostas prefer.
Occasionally add a plant fertilizer to the water that you use to water the hostas in order to help the plants maintain optimum health while they are growing new roots and leaves. Once the hostas take root and grow large again, the process can be repeated as many times as you like. This way, one hosta can turn into many, which can save you a lot of money. You could even share a few hostas with friends and family.
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