Perennials' ability to be divided and relocated is a significant selling factor for home gardeners. They can be used to make new plants, give them away as gifts, or sell the extra plants to nurseries, garden centers, and flower shops.
When it comes to perennials, there are several primary reasons for dividing them. Two key reasons for employing this strategy are improved plant health and enhanced floral production. Perennials that have been in the ground for an extended period of time may become overgrown, reducing the number of blooms they produce. Gardeners divide perennials to propagate them, in addition to growing new plants. Perennials can be split up and used in different parts of your garden or even a new garden plot.
However, not all perennials are easily separated. The easiest plants to divide are those that form clumps or have an expanding root system, but this is not always the case. On the other hand, a single taproot plant can not generally be divided into distinct plants. This is because attempting to detach the taproot may result in the plant's death. Instead of division, perennials with taproots can be propagated using root cuttings or seeds.
Fall is typically the best time to divide perennials that can be divided in the spring and early summer. It is preferable to divide perennials that bloom in the fall or late summer in the spring.
When dividing perennials, use a spading fork to loosen the soil around the plant before cutting it in half. Following that, slice the cluster into four equal pieces using a garden shovel. Then, by hand, divide these four sections into squares measuring four inches by four inches each. Following that, those sections should be transferred to a previously prepared plant bed.
To prepare the soil for division, the gardener should thoroughly wet it a few days in advance. If you totally moisten the clump, it will be easier to remove. Compost or other organic matter should also be added to the soil. Both the original plant and its subsequent divisions should receive the organic material. If plants obtain the nutrition they require in their new environment, they will thrive. Water plants regularly and feed them with a high-quality fertilizer as soon as they are established in the garden or yard.
