| Division is a quick and easy way to propagate your | | | | As with everything pertaining to gardening, it's your |
| favourite plants for filling in gaps in your garden or | | | | knowledge and experience about your own garden |
| swapping with your gardening friends. | | | | and growing conditions that helps you most. |
| Depending on the resources you have at your | | | | Having decided on the plants you wish to propagate |
| disposal quite a number of new plants can be | | | | by division, a good first step is to gather the tools |
| propagated from division. For example, if you have | | | | and resources you need. For example, digging and |
| access to a greenhouse, or polythene tunnel, very | | | | planting tools, an old pair of secuters, for cutting |
| small sized divisions of plants can be grown on under | | | | through particularly tough plants. I use a bonsai tool, |
| controlled conditions. Plants grown this way will quickly | | | | which is a root rake, for teasing apart small divisions |
| become large enough to plant out after they have | | | | that I wish to pot up and grow under a protected |
| reached a desirable size and hardened off from the | | | | environment. Have some grit and organic matter at |
| protective environment in which they were raised. | | | | hand if you wish to improve your soil at the same |
| Some herbaceous perennials begin to deteriorate with | | | | time. And any pots you might need if you are potting |
| age, so if you divide older plants up, use the outer | | | | up small divisions to grow on until planting out. |
| sections of the plant and discard the older middle | | | | Having all you need to hand, the next step is to |
| section of the plant. | | | | carefully dig up your selected plant. Some plants |
| If you plan on planting your newly divided plants in | | | | seem to naturally divide very easily, and a gentle |
| situ straight away, it makes good sense to improve | | | | teasing apart will result in new plants. Others can be a |
| the soil quality, if needed, at the same. Adding some | | | | little more stubborn and might need careful cutting |
| grit and organic matter such as compost will help in | | | | away to get suitable plant material for replanting. An |
| getting your plants happily established in their new | | | | important point is to keep the roots moist as you |
| surroundings. A gentle watering in and attention to | | | | work so as not to put added stress on the plant. |
| watering in dry periods will be of great help until your | | | | Then, having divided your plant, the next step is to |
| plants are fully established. | | | | either replant, or containerise for growing on. After |
| The time to divide plants depends on the actual plant | | | | replanting give a gentle watering in to settle soil |
| itself and your growing conditions. For example if you | | | | particles around the roots. |
| garden in a mild, sheltered area then division in very | | | | There are many good resources available in books |
| early autumn will allow your new plants to grow a | | | | and on the internet that give advice on the best |
| good root system before dormancy. This will ensure | | | | times for division. For me there is nothing quite like |
| your plants get of to a great start the flowing | | | | the delight from growing and propagating your own |
| growing season. Some plants will be much more | | | | plants. Division is a quick and cheap method of |
| vigorous in growth than others. In colder areas spring | | | | increasing plant numbers. |
| division might be best, as then the plants have a full | | | | Jules. |
| growing season to establish themselves. | | | | |