division 81
what you are doing. To divide large, thick clumps—
especially of Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum×super-
bum), hosta, daylily (Hemerocallis), and border phlox
(Phlox paniculata)—the double-fork method is quick
and easy. To use this method, first lift the entire
clump from the ground with a spade. Then insert a
spading fork into the center of the clump, and insert
a second fork parallel to the first, setting the forks
back-to-back with the tines of the forks intersecting.
Pull the forks inward and then outward, and the
clump will separate in two. You might have to repeat
this process several times with a large clump. Once
the large clump is broken up, a sharp nonserrated
knife can be used for further divisions to obtain
smaller pieces. Perennials such as peonies, which are
fleshy rooted, do not divide well with the double-fork
method and are best divided using a knife. Astilbe is
also said to be a poor candidate for the double-fork
method, but I successfully double-fork divided
hundreds of them while working at a garden in
Belgium (though it wasn’t all that much fun!). Those
astilbes must not have known better.
The number and size of divisions depends on your
objectives. It is best to leave 3 to 5 healthy eyes
(dormant growth buds) if you intend to rejuvenate the clump. Single eyes will
give you the most divisions, but they will also give you small nonflowering plants
that season. These small divisions are not recommended for the autumn.
If you simply want more plants from a perennial that doesn’t need division,
you can slice out sections of the plant early in the spring and it will fill in
unnoticed. Groundcovers in particular or stoloniferous perennials
that root freely at nodal joints can have these off shoots separated
from the mother plant to decrease spread and give you more plants.
This same technique can be used for plants that form new
plantlets off the mother crown, such as foxgloves (Digitalis) or
violets (Viola). Lift the new rosette and separate it from the
older plant with a knife. You can also take cuttings of
certain perennials to obtain more plants if division is not
desired or is too diffi cult.
Plants should be kept moist and shaded during
division. Discard the old, nonviable center portion of the
crown and cut off any dead or damaged growth or roots.
Spread roots out evenly in the hole. Water well after planting,
and watch the new divisions for the next several weeks. Small
divisions may need protection from wind and sun for the first several days.
Within a few weeks after establishment, plants may benefit from a light fertiliz-
ing. Fertilizing at planting can burn the plant roots if the fertilizer comes in
contact with the roots, unless a weak inorganic solution or starter organic
solution is used. Dividing time is also a good opportunity to incorporate organic
matter into the hole before replanting. Fall divisions should be mulched after the
ground freezes.
Divided plants will reward you with an increase in vigor and flowering. Don’t
let this easy gardening technique intimidate you or limit your plant palette.
Enjoy!
The double-fork method
of division.When making divisions,
you should leave at least 3 to 5
healthy eyes, such as on this
peony (Paeonia) division.