Dividing Perennials

Fall is a great time to get those too large perennials divided and replanted for Spring. Dividing perennials, such as hostas, daylilies and grasses keeps your garden healthy and encourages new plant growth, without overcrowding. When they have outgrown their space, it’s time to get to work.  

Get Your Tools Ready

Grab your garden gloves, soil knife, garden fork, tarp, trowel and shovel.

Fall Weather Is Best

Dividing in fall gives plants time to set new roots before the heat of summer approaches. The cool fall temperatures allow a safe environment to hold plant divisions until they are back in the ground.

Let The Dividing Begin

Dig up the plant using a garden fork or spade. Once out, loosen the soil around the roots. Pull or cut the plant so that each division contains some of the root sections and leaves.

Keep The Healthy Pieces

It’s important to only replant the healthiest sections of the plant. Be sure to check for declining stems, crowns and roots before replanting.

Time To Replant

Place divisions at the same depth they were growing at when dug up. Be sure to firmly press the soil around the plant. This is a great time to add Espoma Bio-tone or Assure transplant success fertilizer as you replant the divisions. Water frequently and regularly. Continue to water your perennials until the ground freezes, which can be as late as mid-December. A layer of mulch will keep soil in place and help retain moisture.

Transplanting Trees and Shrubs

Fall is also a great time to move any trees and shrubs that may need a new location before Spring, Shrubs and trees can’t be divided like Perennials but they can be relocated if they are in the wrong spot. Transplanting trees and shrubs can be a big job. First, you need to evaluate whether it is something you can do yourself, or if you need professional help.

The root ball of the tree is likely as wide as the canopy, so if you have a large tree, you may want to pay someone to move it for you. If it’s a small plant, here are a few tips.

Give it a Trim

Start by trimming about ⅓ of the plant’s foliage. This helps it focus on establishing roots, rather than supporting the foliage. It is best not to trim trees if they are to be transplanted.

Prepare the new home first

Dig a hole about two to three times as wide as the root system will be before digging up the shrub or tree, this will minimize the time the plant is out of the ground and increase transplant success.

Dig it out

Dig a large hole around the base of the plant. Try to uncover as much of the root system as possible. Keep in mind that the taproot (or main root) can be deep, and you want to uncover as much of it as possible. The more of the root system you uncover, the better the plant will do in its new location. Do not shake excess soil from the roots, this can damage feeder roots.

Re-location

Use a wheelbarrow to move small plants to their new home and a tarp for larger plants, set the plant freshly dug up onto the tarp and drag to a new location so the rootball does not fall apart.  Add a soil conditioner, a plant starter like Bio-tone or Assure transplant success, and mix the soil from the original location with the new soil. Water the soil as you go to eliminate any air pockets. This should help the plant establish roots faster and acclimate to its new location.

Plant at the same, or slightly higher depth than what it was planted at originally. Tamp the soil lightly around the base of the plant and cover in a 3-inch layer of mulch to keep in moisture.

Water, water, water

This is one of the most important factors in the success of your transplant. The first year is hard on newly planted trees and shrubs, and they need enough water to help them survive. Keep the soil moist around the base of the plant until the first snowfall. And continue watering regularly again in the Spring.

For more information on dividing perennials or transplanting trees and shrubs visit any English Gardens store and talk with an expert.