Avant Gardener: Tired and overgrown perennials can be divided now

  • By Kyle Valentini
  • September 2, 2013
  • 372
                        
Summary: The end of summer is a great time to divide tired and overgrown perennials. Summer may be ending but now is a great time to spend time in the garden where you can study what worked and what did not. There is plenty to harvest in the September garden, and once done so, there will be space for cover crops, spring flowering bulbs and divided perennials. Lovers of perennials know the delight of plants that come back to life year after year. They also know that overgrown plants look terrible and tired. Well-tended perennials can last for generations and be permanent fixtures in the garden or landscaping. Perennials can be divided and replanted in other parts of the yard or garden or shared with friends and family. This keeps plants healthier and provides a virtually endless supply of free plants to the gardeners in your life. Dividing perennials can be done any time of year as long as plants are healthy but late summer is one of the better times. The weather is cooler and the ground is warm and easy to work. Some plants prefer to be divided after they have flowered when they are putting energy into their roots. As perennial plants grow, they send up new shoots around the original plant. Over time, this can weaken the plant. Dividing the plant will help. Some plants like to be divided every year while others might prefer every three years. Keep an eye on plants and pay attention to signs of weakness like smaller flowers or yellowing leaves. The plant is telling you it is time to divide. To prepare plants for division water them a full day ahead. Trim leaves to about six inches or about a third of the plant to prevent moisture loss during division. Prepare a new hole for the divided plant so it can immediately begin recovering. Use a sharp pointed shovel to dig down deep on all four sides of the plant, about four to six inches away from the plant. Pry underneath with your tool and lift the whole clump to be divided. If the plant is very large and heavy, you may need to cut it into several pieces in place with your shovel before lifting it. Shake or hose off loose soil and remove dead leaves and stems. This will help loosen tangled root balls and make it easier to see what you are doing. Perennials have different types of root systems. Each of these needs to be treated a bit differently. Tangled, fibrous root systems can be pulled apart. Using two pitchforks in the center of the plant pull in opposite directions. The roots will break but they will recover. Plants with tough root systems will require cutting with a sharp knife or spade. In some cases, it is not necessary to dig up the entire plant in order to divide. Plants with spreading root systems can easily be divided simply by digging up a portion of the plant. Be sure to get as much of the roots as possible. Newly divided plants are much like seedlings. Too much wind and sun can stress them and even kill them making late summer the perfect time to plant with warm soil and less intense sun. While your new plant is adjusting keep it shaded and sheltered from the elements. Keep it well watered and in the spring it will begin to thrive in the garden.


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