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Dividing Perennials

Two echinacea flowers
Growing perennials is like having a plant nursery in your own backyard. You will need to periodically divide and transplant these flowers. Done properly this will provide you with a host of new plants to scatter around the garden or share with neighbors and friends. This is a page about dividing perennials.
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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 858 Posts
May 3, 2006

Dividing PerennialsIt might seem counter-intuitive, but there are three very good reasons for chopping through the roots of your perfectly healthy perennials to divide them. First off, you'll regain control over the too-vigorous flowers that are trying to conquer every available square inch of your garden. Second, you'll rejuvenate those that seem to be slipping into a pattern of fewer, smaller flowers, and lastly (and best of all) free plants!

When to Divide

It's easy to know when it's time to divide perennials that are taking over the garden. But actually, all perennials are pretty good about signaling when their ready to be divided. When a plant's roots become densely packed the flowers will start to become smaller and fewer in number. Really densely packed roots will start to form a donut-shaped clump-an outside ring of growth surrounding an area in the middle where nothing seems to be growing.

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A plant may also start to flop over or need staking after never needing it before. If your perennials are giving you any of these signals, it's time to divide.

As a general rule, perennials that bloom in the spring and summer should be divided in the fall, and plants that bloom in the fall should be divided in the spring. If, on the other hand, you don't like playing by the rules (like me), many perennials can be divided at either end of the season. The important thing to remember is not to divide plants when they are blooming (you want the plant's energy going toward root and leaf production after division) and avoid dividing them on hot, sunny days.

Preparing for Division

Division Techniques

There are two main techniques used for dividing perennials, separating the roots by hand, or using a tool. Start by lifting up the parent plant with a pointed shovel or space. Dig down on all four sides about 4 to 6 inches away from the plant. As you lift up the plant, it will quickly become apparent whether or not you need to use a tool. In cases where the plant has extremely tenacious roots, you may need to slice them with a sharp serrated knife in order to lift part of the plant out for further division.

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Special Cases

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Not All Perennials Need Dividing

Some perennials do not like to be disturbed and should not be divided unless absolutely necessary. These include balloon flower, baby's breath, bugbane, butterfly weed, gas plants, Japanese anemone, false indigo, columbines, goatsbeard and Lenten roses.

Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

May 3, 2012

Can you divide black eyed Susans and Shasta daisies at multiple times in the spring? I want to give the divisions to family a few weeks apart.

By Mike

Answers

Anonymous
January 24, 20160 found this helpful

Why not do it all at once and put in pots to grow on?

 
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July 23, 2012

How do I divide an Auricula primula plant? It has lots of shoots with leaves at the end. Do I cut off the shoots and replant? Help.

By Elma

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Home and Garden Gardening PerennialsJuly 15, 2011
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