Few perennials are as versatile as salvia, also called perennial sage. Late summer and early fall is the time to plant, divide, and transplant many different perennials, shrubs, and trees including spring flowering perennials. Iberis sempervivum, or Candytuft, is one of those wonderful perennials that has good looking foliage throughout the season and beautiful pure white flowers in spring. Here are the five main perennial root systems: Surface Roots: These run parallel to the ground surface. Another good booster is Seaweed solution. Rule of thumb: Divide spring blooming perennials in fall. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work in the garden. No particular care is needed outside of the usual concerns for moisture while they are re-establishing. Every Wednesday, we publish an article to help make gardening easier and this week’s article is all about dividing perennials. Roots exposed to air dry out very quickly. The directions for propagation by division may seem redundant. Summer is risky because heat and drought can wither the plants before they get a chance to root deeply enough to survive; but even then, it is possible if you are willing to be careful to water and care for them. A cinch to multiply by taking up sections of plant. The best way to create a strong new start from a perennial plant is dividing from a healthy, mature plant. Simply take a piece of the plant that includes root, stem, and leaves firming it into good soil that is kept moist after replanting. Divide in early spring for easy handling; for fall division, cut back flowers; Divide in spring or fall; easiest in early spring as leaves begin to emerge; doesn’t need frequent division, This hardy plant roots along the stem; cut a piece off the edge and replant; cut leaves back by half; don’t overwater, Rhizomes pull apart easily; make sure each new division has a leaf and a cluster of roots, Big leaves wilt easily; cut each leaf back by half and keep summer transplants well watered, Divide in midsummer; foliage goes dormant quickly after flowering so mark the plant’s location; keep new transplants watered, New plants will take a few years to flower; set new plants at same depth as they were previously or they won’t bloom; keep watered; does not need to be divided often, Very difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants, Divide every 5 or 6 years or when plant dies out in the center, Easiest to divide in spring when foliage is still small; dividing clumps later won’t harm plant but may reduce bloom for the year, Easiest to divide in spring when foliage is still small; dividing clumps later won’t harm plant but will reduce bloom and leave plants lopsided for the year, Easy to slice into pieces; make sure to get plenty of roots with each new section, Divide every 4 years or as needed; if you divide in fall, wait until the plant is done flowering, Easy to divide; most types spread quickly so divide every 2 to 3 years. Learn how dividing perennials can be easy and save you money with the correct know-how. Rudbeckia, Black Eyed Susan There are numbers of plants to buy under this name, but ‘Goldsturm‘ is an old variety that has stellar qualities. Dividing will rejuvenate old plants, keeping them vigorous and blooming freely. Lungwort is dependable and easy to grow, requiring very little care. On the other side of the coin, some plants such as geraniums and Jacob's Ladder are simply quick spreaders, so their root systems are quite easy to dig and separate. Phlox subulata, Creeping Phlox, was the first plant that I made into numerous starts by cutting up a mother plant. 3 Tips To Help Divide Perennials. When crowded and not blooming well, they should definitely be scheduled for division. Simple as pie. Read articles about: Daisies, Dividing Perennials, Gardening Tips, Perennial Flowers. To give your new plantings an immediate boost use transplanting solution. Sedum spectabile is probably the easiest plant to grow on this list. They appreciate compost and a moist, but well drained spot. Early-blooming perennials should be divided in fall. Their root structures starts to become overcrowded. German Iris is one of the plants that are best lifted and replanted in late summer, when they are dormant. Dividing Plants Without Digging up the Original . Exceptions to the rule are sedums, daylilies and hostas, which, in my experience, can be divided anytime. Pinterest; Facebook; Twitter; Email; By: Julie Martens Forney. Lift the entire plant with a garden fork. Dividing perennials is an easy way to rejuvenate them and control their size. Use your spading fork again and when separating off new sections be sure to keep a piece of the crown from which the leaves will grow. When to divide perennials Plants that flower in late spring, summer or fall should be divided in early spring. Iberis sempervirens. February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden. All pictures were taken by the author. Named cultivars in blue, white, and pink. I like to cut back the foliage to about half or a third before cutting the rootstock into the new starts. Simply dig up the entire clump and then carefully divide the crown and root ball into two or more section, depending on the size of the clump. When to divide perennials. recommended time for dividing perennials. Peonies are another plant that do best when planted at this time. Spring is the ideal time to divide perennials. 10 Ways to Keep Your Houseplants Healthy and Alive. First prepare the bed where you want to plant them. I often help them establish in areas where I wish them to grow with just little bits of the plant, and no real care is needed. A mild booster like this is not the same as using fertilizer which may burn the roots and result in loss of your plant. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. All you need is a shovel and work gloves to get the job done. Plants root as they spread; no need to dig whole plant; Difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants, Doesn’t need division often; cut back whole plant by half so roots have less foliage to support, Divide every few years to keep this short-lived perennial around; reseeds but seedlings may not look like parent plants, Easy to divide; divide every 4 to 5 years for healthier plants; reseeds and seedlings are easy to transplant, Don’t worry about getting roots with each piece, they’ll sprout from the stem; cut individual leaves back by half to conserve moisture, Division every 3 to 4 years helps this short-lived perennial stay around longer; cut plant back by half, Divide every 5 to 7 years; rebloomers are best lifted in spring before they flower, Blooms best if divided down into small sections; division every 2 to 3 years will prolong plants’ life, Mat-forming types root as they grow; cut a rooted piece from the edge and replant, Easy to dig and split; likes moist to wet soils, so keep new plants well watered, Doesn’t like to have main clump disturbed; sends out underground runners so dig small new plants around the edges to transplant, Difficult to divide because of taproot; for best results, purchase new plants; slow to recover from being moved. Dividing perennials is simple, easy, and an absolutely free way to create hundreds of new plants for your landscape. While most perennials are easy to divide, a few perennials are difficult to divide because of deep taproots or extensive root systems. Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (Paeonia spp. According to the roots and leaves, some need a bit more care, the instructions might very slightly. Some can be divided into many smaller plants when buying the initial larger pot from a nursery. The Siberian Iris will do just that and is a fantastic choice for a separating plant. Their succulent leaves help them do well with transplanting the new starts. You can also divide perennial herbs in the garden to expand your harvest. Yarrow, Achillea, benefits from regular dividing, so you will always have plenty of plants if following this practice. Space plants about 6 inches apart. Divide in fall every 3 - 5 years to keep lungwort healthy. Keep in mind that each perennial’s root type determines how it likes to be cut and divided. In this case, you do not need to lift the entire plant out of the ground. Divide late-summer, fall perennials in spring. Oenothera, Evening Primrose, are short lived, so they definitely benefit from regular division. Because every perennial has a preferred way to be divided, use this handy chart to help you know what time of year to divide, how to divide it and a handful of other helpful tips to ensure your success. Thankfully, dividing perennials does not have to be a difficult process, making it perfect for this week’s Beginner Gardening Wednesday. Assemble your tools. Add plenty of bonemeal and some compost to the soil. The soil is warm so the new divisions will romp away, and we’re normally guaranteed plenty of spring showers to help them settle in. (A sure sign is roots that fill all available soil space or bulge out at the top. My experience is that they grow wildly for a couple years and then run out without consistent replanting. ... One of the great aspects of perennials is that you can frequently divide the plants, increasing your garden’s yield without increasing your costs. Dividing perennials is an easy and inexpensive way to gain additional plants for your garden or to share. There are lots of plants that are great for dividing and also add elegance and color to your yard. These perennials prefer to be left undisturbed. It allows the new divisions plenty of time to settle in and establish roots before winter sets in. The list of easy perennials was part of a list found in the very informative Clemson University Home and Garden Fact Sheet, "Dividing Perennials." Lamb’s ears, Stachys lanata, have those gray, felty leaves that give them their name. Divide and repot perennials to alleviate crowded roots. Divide summer-flowering plants in spring (Mar-May) or autumn (Sep-Nov) when the soil is dry enough to work. Select larger plants with good foliage and strong growth habits. It is so easy that it makes the perfect beginner plant for division. Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss, is one of the lovely plants that have forget-me-not like flowers but with very attractive large heart shape leaves. http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/divide/how-to-divide-45-favorite-perennials/, How to Propagate Rex Begonias from Leaf Cuttings, Divide in early spring or after it stops blooming in late summer to early fall; will bloom better with division every 2 to 3 years, Easy to divide; needs to be divided every 1 to 2 years to keep plants vigorous, Divide in summer when flowering is over, at least 6 weeks before frost so plants have time to get established, Spreads quickly; easy to divide; for ease of handling, divide in spring as foliage is emerging, Easy to divide; divide every 3 to 4 years; for best appearance next season, don’t make divisions too small, Easy to divide; roots usually pull apart easily by hand; divide every 3 to 4 years, Divide as foliage goes dormant in the heat or mark plant location; roots are brittle, handle carefully, Divide in late spring to early summer, after blooming; will reseed but divide to keep specific cultivars true. Brunnera, Siberian Bugloss, is a plant I like to be a bit more careful with when making more plants. Cut it into sections with three “eyes” each. More info If you lift the plants and cut into sections with the dirt they are growing in, the plants are immediately happy with just being kept moist at the beginning. Iberis sempervivum, or Candytuft, is one of those wonderful perennials that has good looking foliage throughout the season and beautiful pure white flowers in spring. When to divide Hardy Geraniums aka Cranesbill Gerniums Fall or early Spring as they begin to grow is a good time to do this. A basic gardening technique, it is useful for a wide range of plants. Divide your perennials to keep plants vigorous, improve the health of their foliage and to increase the number of blooms. I’ve used both this and transplant solutions and they have worked equally well for me. by Ilona | Featured Articles, Garden How-To Practical Help, Garden perennials, Spring. 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