We all have friends who ’ve create lavish , fancy garden with “ pass - along - plant . ” It ’s easy , and it ’s low-priced . recurrent variance in a garden gives survive favorites room to pass around and fill in , at the same fourth dimension giving you all kinds of detached plants . Plus , you’re able to position yourself as the coolest gardener in the locality by yield these babies away . I put a sign out with mine : “ Free to good home , NOT kitten . ” Boom ! The plants are lead in an good afternoon .
In most cases , it ’s best to rise out the entire chunk of whatever perennial you are work on . allow ’s take day lily ( Hemerocallisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–10 ) , for instance . If the cluster is 12 inches or so across , tease it apart , probably into at least four equal divisions . I use a hori - hori / Nipponese gardener ’s tongue ; or if it ’s a huge clunk , I split it with a garden fork or shovel . Remove the center of the clod if it is dying out , rock the soil off the divisions , scrutinize the roots ( clipping off any that are dead ) , and promptly replant where needed . German whiskered flag ( Iris germanica , Zones 3–10 ) love this treatment . They appear to be multiplying and strike across my property like tribbles fromStar Trek .
Easily dissever perennials include :

Replant at the same depth the original plant was growing at , using superfluous care when put peonies ( Paeoniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) . Remember , too , that German bearded iris should be only part planted , horizontally . Water the new divisions in well .
There are some perennials that resent being divide , raise , and moved . Anything with a taproot fall in that category :
Now that you know who can stay and who can be proceed around , you are ready to part and conquer your perennial garden . Next spring you will have a bounty of flower from your existing perennial stash . skillful job , gardener !

Mary Ann Newcomer is the author of two al-Qur’an : Rocky Mountain Gardener ’s HandbookandVegetable Gardening in the Mountain States .
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‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris (Iris sibirica‘Caesar’s Brother’, Zones 3–8). Siberian iris is a perfect candidate for division.Photo: Steve Aitken

‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris (Iris sibirica‘Caesar’s Brother’, Zones 3–8). Siberian iris is a perfect candidate for division.Photo: Steve Aitken

‘Better Times’ peony (Paeonia lactiflora‘Better Times’, Zones 4–8).Photo: Jennifer Benner





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