Dividing Plants

Spring is upon us and now is a great time to be thinking about dividing herbaceous plants in your gardens. Regularly dividing herbaceous perennials is important for the following reasons:

• It keeps the plants growing vigorously

• It keeps the plants healthy and encourages good airflow

• Plants that have become too large can be kept under control

• And of course, it produces free plants!

How to divide plants:

1. Select the herbaceous plant that you wish to divide

2. Lift the plant out of the border or pot with a fork or spade and shake off any excess soil

3. Examine the root system and decide which of the following methods of division to use.

• If the roots are fairly loose you can simply pull some herbaceous plants apart with your hands to release the roots.

• If the roots are more tightly bound or thicker, then you can place two garden forks back to back in the centre of the clumps and lever the two forks to divide the plant into two or break off sections.

• Finally, if the plant is extremely congested and the roots are too thick to prise apart then a sharp took such as a knife or a saw can be used to cut the clump into several sections.

4. Once the plants have been divided, the sections can either be replanted in the same space, potted up into planters and pots or distributed throughout your garden borders.

5. Ensure the divided plants are well watered.

Author - Emily Bolland