| Dividing Plants |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-606 |
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Q: I have an abundance of flowers in my backyard and I'd like to split some and move them out front. Can anything be split? A: (Walter Reeves, horticulturist and DIY gardening expert) Dividing plants is easy, and a basic gardening skill. You can "multiply your money" and your plants by dividing plants and spreading out the vegetation. However, some plants are easier to divide than others. Here are some tips. - Plants that are easy to divide include hostas, daylilies and irises. Plants that propagate by natural runners or offshots -- like thyme and lemon balm -- are also simple to divide.
- Some plants have multiple stems and appear easy to divide, but if the stems all originate from a central crown, the plant cannot easily be divided.
- Some houseplants -- like a peace lily (figure A) -- may divide themselves naturally while growing in the pot.
- Grasses are also easy to divide. A clump of grass may look like a single plant, but is actually a collection of many individual plants. In our demonstration, New Zealand flax-grass grown in a pot was divided for multiple plantings.
- Remove the plant from the pot, and shake some of the dirt loose from the roots (figure B).
- With the mass of roots exposed, identify a spot where an offshoot can be separated from the mother-plant near the base (figure C).
- A variety of tools can be used to assist in dividing plants. Many people use a sharp knife, scissors or garden pruners. A special plant-dividing knife with a serrated blade (figure D) is ideal for dividing most types of plants. These tools are available from garden centers.
- Use the tip of the blade to carefully pry an offshoot-section loose at a natural dividing-point at the plant base (figure E).
- With the separation made at the base, carefully pull apart the sections (figure F). The divided sections can then be re-potted or replanted individually (figure G). Add potting soil around the roots and water the plant to get it started. Place the newly separated plants in a shaded area for a few days to allow it to recover from the shock of the separation procedure.
- Tip: Nurseries often sell young plants that have been planted several to a pot. Transplanted cuttings or young plants that have been potted in this way (figure H) are simple to separate. They can usually be simply pulled apart by hand, then replanted individually. This generally costs less than purchasing multiple seedlings in individual containers. This is particularly useful when purchasing potted herbs or other small garden plants like dusty miller.
RESOURCES :
Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping
Model: 0618055908
Author: Rita Buchanan
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com
Landscaping: Planning, Planting, Building (Better Homes and Gardens Step-by-Step Series)
Model: 0696025582
Meredith Books Corp.
Website: www.meredith.com
Landscaping: Principles and Practices
Model: 082736735X
Author: Jack E. Ingels
Delmar Learning
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