question is, "What do we do with them?" Perennials are small flowering plants that grow and bloom over the spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their root-stock. Every year they grow and expand. Because of this, they are liable to take up a large amount of space in gardens or flower beds. One way to fix this is to weed them up, but that's not great for the plant. How do you keep your beds organized and healthy? A method known as perennial division is a valid option.
How to divide perennials.
It is a good rule of thumb to divide the spring and summer bloomers in the late fall before the frost. If you are looking to divide fall blooming perennials, this should be done in the spring so the roots can devote themselves to blooming.
Before dividing your perenial, it is important to water the mother plant well for a day or two before you dig it up. Also, wait for a cloudy day to divide, because heat is stressful to plants.
Here are 4 simple steps you can follow for a successful division.
1. Rake back any mulch near the base of you plant dig 12 inches wider than the plant. Once you have gone all around, push the blade under the plant, and try to pry it out.
2. Remove the weak or small shoots and divide the remaining healthy shoots into clumps of 5-6 shoots. This number esures the plant will recover after being divided.
3. Divide the plant into clumps by cutting the roots. This is most effective with a knife on smaller, weaker plants, but for big, healthy root systems, use a fork.
4. Gently tease the roots out of the bottom and sides of each new clump with your fingers. Now dig the holes; they should be 1 to 2 inches shallower and 6 to 9 inches wider than the teased root ball. Plant each root ball, and backfill with soil mixed with a root-promoting fertilizer, watering as you go. Water every day for the next couple of weeks to get them established.
Dividing perennials every three to six years is a great way to thin clump-forming varieties. This technique can also be used to control plant size, invigorate growth, and multiply the number of specimens in a garden.
Tyler Kaiser
T.J. Landscaping
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