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Dividing perennials is an essential gardening skill that helps maintain healthy plants and encourages vigorous growth. When it comes to foundation plantings, dividing perennials can rejuvenate old plants and create new ones for your landscape. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to effectively divide perennials in your foundation planting.
Why Divide Perennials?
Dividing perennials offers several benefits:
- Promotes healthier, more vigorous plants
- Controls plant size and prevents overcrowding
- Encourages more blooms and better flowering
- Rejuvenates aging plants
- Provides free or inexpensive new plants for your garden
When Is the Best Time to Divide?
The optimal time to divide perennials depends on the type of plant. Generally, the best times are:
- Early spring, just as new growth begins
- Late summer or early fall, after the heat of summer has passed
Avoid dividing during the peak of hot summer weather or in the middle of winter in colder climates.
Tools and Materials Needed
- Garden spade or sharp shovel
- Garden fork
- Pruning shears or scissors
- Gloves
- Watering can or hose
- Mulch (optional)
Step-by-Step Guide to Dividing Perennials
1. Prepare the Plant
Water the plant thoroughly a day before dividing. This softens the soil and reduces stress on the plant during division.
2. Dig Around the Plant
Use a spade or garden fork to carefully dig around the perimeter of the plant, loosening the soil. Gently lift the entire clump out of the ground.
3. Divide the Plant
Use a sharp spade or pruning shears to cut the clump into sections. Each section should have roots and at least one growing point or shoot. Be gentle to avoid damaging the roots.
4. Replant the Divisions
Plant each division at the same depth as it was growing before. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
5. Mulch and Care
Apply a layer of mulch around the new plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the soil evenly moist as the plants establish.
Tips for Successful Division
- Choose healthy, vigorous plants for division
- Avoid dividing during periods of drought or extreme heat
- Use clean tools to prevent disease spread
- Label divisions if you plan to transplant them elsewhere
- Be patient; new plants may take a season to establish fully
By following these steps, you can keep your foundation planting vibrant and healthy. Regular division not only maintains the beauty of your landscape but also provides an ongoing supply of plants to enhance other areas of your garden.