You guys know and love, Kelly at My Soulful Home,
who also happens to be
The Everyday Home’s Gardening Contributor.
Kelly is back with another letter in the series,
Gardening from A-Z. This has been a very
popular series and I know you excited to have her
back with us.
With most things in life when you divide you get less.
The birthday girl gets less cake when she divides it up amongst her
guests. The heiress gets less when the fortune is divided amongst her
siblings…and so on. You get the picture.
This is not the case in the garden. In the garden when you divide
your plants you get more…much more! Isn’t the garden a special
place? Got questions about dividing your plants? I have answers for you.
Let’s dig in!
WHY DIVIDE?
There are three main reasons to divide your plants:
- control the size (avoiding the hosta that ate my house scenario);
- to rejuvenate;
- to increase the number.
WHEN TO DIVIDE?
Divide Spring/Summer bloomers in the fall.
Divide Fall/Winter bloomers in the Spring.
Easy to remember, if it is flowering, or should be, don’t divide.
Also don’t divide in super hot weather. That will put too much
stress on the plant.
HOW TO DIVIDE?
1) Prepare the area where you will put the new divisions;
2) Prune the “mother” plant to 6″ off the ground;
3) With a pointed shovel dig all around the plant in a circle,
pry under the plant with a shovel and lift;
4) Shake off the loose soil;
5) Separate roots.
In separating the root systems keep in mind all roots are not
created equal.
There are 4 basic root systems:
- Spreading – separate by hand. Examples are asters & purple
- cone flower;
- Clumping – separate with a knife. Examples are hosta &
- daylilies;
- Rhizome – separate with knife leaving a few inches of rhizome
- & a leaf. Best example is the bearded iris;
- Tuberous – separate with a knife with each tuber having some
- roots & a sprout. Best example is the dahlia.
Some plants will be so huge that you will need a shovel & some brute
force to divide. Don’t be timid…go for it! Just get the new divisions
in a bucket of water or in the ground right away. If you do, despite
some rough handling they will flourish.
So you ready to get more by dividing? Check the list here for more
details on the plants you want to divide.
Get your gloves, knife & shovel. I will meet you in the garden! I’ll be
there with you in spirit while you dig, separate & plant. If you have
any questions along the way just holler out here or at My Soulful Home.
I love being here once a month & if you like me here too, then get
more of My Soulful Home by following along with your own email
subscription (hey, have you entered my $300 Give Away yet? ),
giving a thumb’s up on Facebook, joining me in oogling all the
loveliness on Pinterest and getting the latest from me on Twitter.
Now go DIVIDE & CONQUER!
See you soon,
** Kelly **
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Thanks Kelly – that was awesome. I know what I need to be
doing this Fall. 🙂 Thanks so much for the informative
advise. Can’t wait for the letter “E.”
If you have missed any of the other letters, here are the links:
B – “Berries”
Have a great weekend everyone!
Blessings…
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kelly says
Thanks Barb! Love being here with you & your readers!
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