How to Separate Sedum

Sedum, a perennial garden favorite, comes in more than 400 species, and flourishes in containers, rock gardens and borders. Also known as stonecrop because of the rocky areas the plants often inhabit, the hardy sedum grows in USDA Zones 4 to 9. Most sedum plants thrive in sunny locations with good drainage, and bloom from summer through fall, depending on the variety. Gardeners prize sedum for its succulent leaves and colorful flowers, which range from pale pink to burgundy. Sedum separates easily for propagation or pruning. Gardeners separate sedum by dividing the roots or cutting the tips.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Soil
• Sand
• Shovel
• Knife

Instructions

Dividing Sedum

1. Divide sedum in the spring, when new growth begins. Dig around the sedum plant, exposing the root clump.

2. Cut as much as half of the root clump off with a sharp knife, and replant the sedum in fertile soil . If it is a large clump, cut it into several pieces for replanting.

3. Fill in the hole around the original plant with fertilized soil. Divide sedum every three to four years.

Tip Cuttings

1. Snip off a 4- to 6-inch piece from a stem with at least three leaves. Pull off the bottom two leaves.

2. Push the clipping into a mixture of equal parts planting soil and sand, burying the exposed nodes, or areas where the leaves were attached. Water thoroughly and keep the cuttings moist and in a shady place. Roots should begin to form from the nodes in about three weeks.

3. Gently pull on the cutting. If there is resistance, roots have formed. Transplant tip cuttings to the garden six to eight weeks after potting.

Planting Sedum

1. Dig a hole at least 12 inches deep and twice as wide as the diameter of the sedum pot. Add 2 to 4 inches of compost to the bottom of the hole. Space plants 6 inches to 2 feet apart, depending on the size and variety of sedum.

2. Bury the top of the sedum root ball level with the soil surface. Fill in the hole around the plant, gently tamping the soil.

3. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch. Sedum needs 1 inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering.

Tips & Warnings

• Trimming stems in half encourages the sedum to grow thicker and branch out.

• After the first hard frost, cut stems back to 2 inches above the soil line.

References

• Divide and Conquer--Perennials, That Is!
• Sedum
• National Gardening Association: Sedum

Resources

• Michigan State University Plants: Kamchatka Stonecrop