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Perennials are a beloved addition to any garden for one very simple reason; you only have to plant them once to enjoy new growth year after year! However, there will eventually come a time when your favorite peony or daylily suddenly isn’t looking as lush and vibrant as it once did.
How could this be? Once a perennial is planted, don’t you get to kick back and enjoy them? For the most part, yes, but just like anything else, perennials do still require some maintenance. In this case, once a perennial starts to appear a little lackluster or under stress, it’s probably in need of a division.
If you’re unsure of where to start, don’t worry. We’ve put together this handy guide that will teach you all you need to know about how to divide perennials.
Not all perennials have the same needs, so it’s always a good idea to do some research beforehand. For example, some perennials may need to be divided more frequently than others or during a different point in the season. Peonies, for example, should only be divided in the fall so that they have all winter to recover.
Otherwise, the dirty work of dividing perennials is pretty much universal and can be done in 3 easy steps.
Choose a nice overcast day to do this so that the exposed roots of your perennial plants won’t dry out. Gently loosen the dirt from the roots of your perennial, avoiding as much breakage as possible.
Some perennials can be easily divided using just your hands. Others that grow from bulbous tubers may require a clean, sharp knife.
Choose sections that have between 3 and 5 shoots and nice healthy roots. All of the plants’ roots should be healthy, but if you notice any that aren’t, discard them immediately in the garbage (not the compost!).
Make sure the sections you’ve divided are small as they will recover much faster than larger divided sections.
Space out the divided portions of your perennial so that they have room to grow, and then water them thoroughly. Initially, your perennials may be a little shocked after you’ve divided them, so keeping them well-hydrated is essential for their recovery.
Of course, if you’re dividing your perennials because you’re already facing a space issue in your garden, don’t just throw them away! Dividing perennials is a great way to share your love of your favorite plant with friends and family. You can pot up the divided section of your perennial and give it away as a thoughtful gift.
Depending on what kind of perennials you have, you will need to divide them either in early spring or fall. The general rule of thumb is that if you have fall-blooming perennials, you should divide them in the spring, and if you have spring-blooming perennials, you should divide them in the fall.
The reason for this simply comes down to recovery time. If a perennial is divided too close to its blooming time, it won’t have had sufficient time to re-establish the root system. The plant will then not have enough energy to both grow its roots and bloom. Obviously, this can result in a rather disappointing season for your perennials.
However, if you divide your perennials properly, then this won’t be a concern. As long as your perennials have their entire dormant period to recover fully, they will come back bigger and better than the year before!
Have more questions? Feel free to stop into one of our two Arkansas locations, and we’d be happy to help you out. Whether it’s garden giftware, plant advice, or plant products, our fully-stocked garden centers are here to support you through another great growing season.
