You have planted the plants, watered and kept your landscape weeded, and now your perennials are getting too big! This is a great problem to have. A thriving landscape will produce plants that occasionally need to have their size controlled. Dividing perennials is an easy process that will keep your plants blooming their best and will produce more plants to use in your landscape or to share.
You may look at your perennials and not know if it is time to divide. If you notice that the plant is using a lot of water, is not blooming as well as it used to or just looks too big for its original area it is probably time to divide. Typically, plants will need to be divided every 4-5 years, but some plants may need the process done less frequently. Division of plants will reduce the plant size, making it easier for the plant to sustain itself as well as give it more energy to produce fantastic blooms. Follow these easy steps to divide your overgrown perennials.
Division of plants should take place after we have had several hard freezes or when the plant is starting to go into dormancy to reduce stress. Carefully dig out your plant, being careful not to cut as many roots as possible. As you dig the plant out you can loosen soil, but it is not necessary to remove a large amount of soil. At this point cut your plant down, leaving several inches of stems and leaves. Taking a pruner or garden knife, you will not cut into the crown of the plant dividing the plant into halves, thirds or quarters depending on how many divisions you can make. Carefully separate the pieces and replant one of the pieces in your original hole. The remaining divisions can be planted in different locations. Treat the division as a new planting, watering as needed and applying Fertilome Root Stimulator once a week to establish the roots. You can expect a smaller general size in the plants for the first year or so.
Dividing your perennials is crucial to keep them at their prime. Put it on your list to do this yearly, it is worth it!
