How to Divide Perennials

Are your perennials blooming less prolifically or getting too crowded? Then it's time to divide them. The method depends on your plants' growth habit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 2 Spading Forks
• Compost
• Compost Bins
• Compost Makers
• Garden Spades
• Planting Containers
• Shovels

Dividing Clump-Forming Perennials

1. Dig up the entire root system using a spade or spading fork - including all the soil from about 6 to 8 inches around the roots.
2. Separate the root clumps with your hands by shaking off excess soil and pulling the roots apart into divisions.
3. Separate tightly growing clumps with two forks. Stick them between clumps with their back sides together, then push the handles apart.
4. Replant the new divisions in the ground, or plant them in containers filled with soil mix.
5. Water new plantings well until soil is completely moist.
6. Discard the oldest section at the center of the clump if it looks woody and has little new growth.

Dividing Single-Stem Perennials

7. Use the following method for perennials that have runners (underground stems) and those that spread by growing roots through the soil and sending up more stems above ground.
8. Plunge a shovel or spade straight down into the soil between groups of upright, stems that are above ground. This separates the whole plant into sections.
9. Dig up a clump of soil that has roots and three or four stems growing out; dig about 4 or 5 inches down. These are your new plants.
10. Replant or pot the extra divisions.
11. Refill the original hole with compost.
12. Water the remaining plant and the new divisions well, until the soil is completely moist.

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