The Moving and Dividing Low Down
Do I actually walk around the garden with a notebook?! The answer is yes! Admittedly this was earlier in the summer and rather than planning a plant move I was contemplating the self-seeding machine that is angelica (I do love it but it also loves my garden 🤪). But I've been out with my notebook the last few weeks jotting down what needs to move this autumn and next spring.
It doesn't matter how carefully I plan, I always spot something that could do with shifting or being divided. It might have outgrown it's space, doesn't look right where it is, or might not be doing very well. Whatever the reason, it's good to jot plans down or mark the plant in the border with a stick. Otherwise I forget, especially plants that fade into the background again as we move through autumn. I also often forget what's where until they come back to life again. So for me organisation and planning are key.
A lot of plants can be moved or divided during dormant months, so late October/November and mid-March/April in the UK. But this depends on the weather if it's really wet or too cold delay until conditions improve.
Dividing perennials is a sure-fire way of ensuring you have healthy flowering perennials year on year and also gives you additional plants for somewhere else in your garden or to giveaway. It's a win-win. Some perennials are also super spreaders and dividing keeps this behaviour under control.
Loads of perennials benefit from a good divide, including:
Astrantia
Anemone
Crocosmia
Delphinium
Eryngium (sea holly)
Euphorbia
Geranium
Hostas
Grasses
And the best time to do this is when the plant is least active, so early spring or early autumn. But (and there's always a but!) you should divide spring-flowering plants like irises in the summer after they've flowered as this is when they start to develop new roots.
With these 4 easy steps to dividing a perennial, you can't go wrong:
1. Dig the plant up as carefully
This means you can retain as much of the root as possible. This can take some patience especially for something that is super established but stick with it.
2. Pull the roots apart
If you pull the roots apart or cut down the roots with a sharp knife and divide the plant into sections for replanting.
3. Replant
Move and replant your new multiple plants in the ground straight away if you can so that they don't lose moisture.
4. Water, water, water
Keep them watered!!
And that's it! Simple as...And a perfect job for this weekend or weekends to come.
If you’re planning some new planting, want a bit of a refresh, or need to move a few things around and need some inspiration or advice to design and create your dream garden, check out our services. My garden design services are tailored to meet your requirements, however large or small. And all my services include after-care, tuition and maintenance if you need them.
Katie Townsend Garden Design is a small design studio in Edinburgh.
Working on a broad range of projects from courtyard gardens to small city gardens, and larger spaces, we cover Edinburgh, Glasgow and East and West Lothian. We also offer virtual design services throughout the UK.