DIVIDING PERENNIALS

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Here is one for all of you math lovers out there…gardening is the only activity you can do where you can multiply by dividing.  Let me explain further.

 

Dividing your perennials is necessary to keep your garden healthy, thriving, and under control.  Let’s take a closer look at these 3 reasons to divide your perennials.

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The first reason is to rejuvenate older plants.  As some perennials age, you may see that the clumps will have started to die out in the middle with only new growth appearing on the outer edges of the clump.  Or you may have noticed that the plant may not be blooming as heavily as it used to and the leaves may appear to be stunted.  These are all signs that the plant is losing its vigor and needs to be dug up and divided in order to thrive again.

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The second reason for dividing perennials is to control the size of the plant.

Some perennials can grow much more aggressively than others.  Plants, such as black-eyed susans and Shasta Daisies, can grow into a bigger and bigger size clump and soon start to take over your garden.  By dividing the clump into smaller sizes you can keep the plant size under control.

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The third reason to divide your perennials is to propagate more plants.

Dividing perennials is an easy and inexpensive way to increase the number of plants in your garden especially in new areas.   It is also a great way to share plants with friends, family or neighbours.

 

With that said, there are a few perennials that do not like to be divided at all.  For example Baptisia, Bleeding heart,  Butterfly Weed, Christmas Rose, Lavender, Poppies, and Peonies.

 

Now that we know why we need to divide perennials, the next question is: when is the proper time to divide?  The general rule of thumb of when to divide is:

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• Divide spring and summer flowering perennials in late summer or fall.  E.g.  Irises, Salvia

• Divide late summer and fall-blooming perennials in early spring.  E.g. Sedums, Coneflowers, and Mums

 

Here are the steps to follow when dividing your perennials:

Joanne Young

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For 30 years I was employed at Mori Gardens in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as a Garden Designer and Consultant. I have been privileged over the years to have completed more than two thousand landscape designs of all sizes, for both commercial and residential properties. I love talking to clients about their gardens and helping them to make their dream gardens become a “growing” reality.  I spend a lot of time diagnosing diseased plant material and identifying insect problems and advising clients on possible solutions to their problems.