Quick facts
- Perennials are plants that grow back each year.
- Divide or split a single perennial into multiple plants to help the plant perform better.
- After they are divided, there is more space for roots to grow and absorb nutrients and water.
- It can help manage the size of the plant.
- You will have more plants of the same kind to add to your garden when you split a perennial.
- Spring is the ideal time to do this
Why divide?
Fast growing plants often need to be divided in Spring to rejuvenate overgrown foliage and to stimulate new growth. Overgrown plants can be easy targets for disease.
Plants that spread rapidly can be controlled through regular divisions. Also, this is a great way to get new plants for your garden without spending a dime!
Signs plants need to be divided
Unsightly plants need to be divided. They become overgrown with dead, unappealing centers and have fewer flowers. Their vigorous growth has sent them to places in your garden where they are not welcome! They also are in overall poor health due to the plant depleting the fertility of the soil as it crowds itself. Let the plant be the gauge, not a calendar
When to divide
In general, most perennials need to be divided every 3 to 5 years.
Spring is a great time for dividing. This is when you can do the least amount of irreparable damage. The plants are coming out of dormancy and are ready to grow. However, some argue that specific plants respond to dividing better later in the growing season.
The Oriental Poppy, Peony and Siberian Iris should be divided in late July to early August, but spring is acceptable if that is the only time you can divide.
Early spring bloomers: Divide after bloom and they have all season to anchor new roots and set buds for next spring.
Summer-fall bloomers: Divide in spring and they too will set roots, bud and flower.
Source: extension.illinois.edu©
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