For many of us, a change of scenery does us good.  The same holds true for our beloved perennials which occasionally need to “get out of the house” to perform their best.  Relocation, or division, may need to occur if plants have dead growth in the center, poor flower production, or have outgrown their allotted space. 

September and October, or 4 – 6 weeks before a hard freeze, is a safe time for dividing or moving perennials.  The rule of thumb is to divide spring and summer perennials in fall, and fall blooming perennials in early spring.

Dividing a plant while it is not flowering allows for better root and vegetative growth because the plant is not expending a lot of energy to produce blooms.  Many perennials become crowded and will benefit from being divided every 3 – 5 years.

We offer the following suggestions for the transplanting of perennials:  

• Soak plants deeply prior to lifting from the ground
• Avoid lifting plants in the heat of the day
• Prune back stems of plants approximately 6’ from ground level
• Lift the parent plant using a pointed shovel or garden fork
• If the center of the plant rarely shows any new growth, divide the perennial into sections using a sharp knife and replant the healthy outer sections only

For any questions you have on this article, or any topic of concern, email us—or better yet, come by and talk to one of our professional staff members.  Remember, Phelan Gardens is open year-round!       

For additional information, check the following link:

• Home and Garden Television Fall
• Gardening with Perennials - Dividing Perennials
• Home and Garden Television Perennials