I try to survey my gardens at least twice a week. I look for signs of drought, insect invasion and areas that look sparse or overcrowded.
Summer is not the best time to divide plants, but sometimes there are good reasons not to wait.
In early June you can still recognize where the spring bulbs are resting, or maybe you are moving and want to take plants with you, or perhaps you want to rearrange some plants according to color, height or growth habit, or maybe you need more sun for the plant to bloom.
And since summer heat and lack of rain are hard on plants, make sure the transplant receives 1 inch of water weekly.
Daylilies, which should be divided every five years, are easy to split with their fibrous roots. First, uproot the entire plant and use a sharp spade to cut through the root to make as many divisions as you wish. If the plant is young, you may be able to divide it by pulling it apart. After digging a new hole for your transplants, add some amendment to the soil and plant the new division at the same depth as the root system is long.
Bearded iris have rhizomes for storing food and are also easy to transplant. Again, lift the plant and divide the rhizomes by pulling them apart, making sure each new division has at least one fan (three to four leaves) and a good cluster of roots.
Dig a hole approximately 4 inches deep and spread the roots before covering with about 1 inch of soil.
Heuchera (coral bells) has a woody crown. Lift the plant and pull pieces off it. Don't worry about getting roots with each transplant; they sprout roots from the stem.
Notice to gardeners who are susceptible to poison ivy: I found a new spray solution that stopped the itch with the first application. Check with any CVS pharmacist.
“A life without love is like a year without summer.”
– Swedish proverb
Summer is not the best time to divide plants, but sometimes there are good reasons not to wait.
In early June you can still recognize where the spring bulbs are resting, or maybe you are moving and want to take plants with you, or perhaps you want to rearrange some plants according to color, height or growth habit, or maybe you need more sun for the plant to bloom.
And since summer heat and lack of rain are hard on plants, make sure the transplant receives 1 inch of water weekly.
Daylilies, which should be divided every five years, are easy to split with their fibrous roots. First, uproot the entire plant and use a sharp spade to cut through the root to make as many divisions as you wish. If the plant is young, you may be able to divide it by pulling it apart. After digging a new hole for your transplants, add some amendment to the soil and plant the new division at the same depth as the root system is long.
Bearded iris have rhizomes for storing food and are also easy to transplant. Again, lift the plant and divide the rhizomes by pulling them apart, making sure each new division has at least one fan (three to four leaves) and a good cluster of roots.
Dig a hole approximately 4 inches deep and spread the roots before covering with about 1 inch of soil.
Heuchera (coral bells) has a woody crown. Lift the plant and pull pieces off it. Don't worry about getting roots with each transplant; they sprout roots from the stem.
Notice to gardeners who are susceptible to poison ivy: I found a new spray solution that stopped the itch with the first application. Check with any CVS pharmacist.
“A life without love is like a year without summer.”
– Swedish proverb
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