How to Divide a Hosta
Choose the right time of year., Get the right tools for your soil., Cut or dig around the hosta plant, starting 10cm/4 inches from the base of a small plant, to 35cm/18 inches for a very large clump., If you are new at dividing hostas or other...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose the right time of year.
While many gardeners choose spring for time to move and divide plants, it can have a negative effect on the plants, especially in hotter climates.
It's preferable to divide hostas in the late summer and early fall, roughly 4 weeks before first frost.
Hostas are fairly tough plants, though, and can be divided at any time during the growing season if you carefully replant, water, and mulch the divided clumps.
Tamping down the soil around the root ball so that the plant can't be easily dislodged will insure greater success. -
Step 2: Get the right tools for your soil.
Often, if the clumps are large (say about 25cm/10 inches across at the base), you will find it easiest to use a fork with flat blades and a spade or shovel.
If the soil is very light and humus-y, and the plants are smaller, a long-bladed knife, preferably with a serrated blade, will work well.
A hacksaw is very helpful if the clump is very large.
Some folks like to have a garden hose handy, or a large bucket of clean water. , Once you have cut a circle around the clump, slide the spade underneath the clump and lift it out of the ground, or pry the clump from the ground with the fork. , Also wash the plant if you are unsure of how the individual plants are growing and you don't want to slice one in half (particularly if the hosta is a slow-growing expensive one).
Do not worry about damaging the roots with the water, because hostas' roots are tough. , To remove a stem from the crown, use a back and forth pulling motion and not a side-wise motion (hold the core plant in one hand, and grab the stem in the other, rotate the stem-holding back and forth), work the stem back and forth until the rhizome comes loose or breaks from the crown.
The rhizome will break at the appropriate point.
Even if you lose some of the plant stems, you'll still have enough of the rhizomes to produce a healthy new clump. , You can cut the clump in various sizes, such as simply in half, into thirds, or quarters. , Try to keep as many roots and leaves as possible, by making cuts through the crown but not into the roots.
Start by cutting the crown in half, if you are really careful you can navigate around the stems; if the clump is really large, sometimes it is just easier to cut in half without much concern that you cut a few stems in half, because the clump is such a monster anyway. , In this case, hold each half in one hand, and gently rotate the halves in opposite directions, then rotate back and forth each time applying a bit more pressure and simultaneously exerting pressure to move the halves away from each other.
If you can't pull it apart then make the cut deeper. ,,,, Do not think that a small piece might not grow.
It's amazing how resilient these plants are and you might as well plant the little pieces alongside a larger plant. , If you can not plant them right away, place some moist dirt or peat moss on the roots and put them away from direct sunlight, deep shade is good in hotter climes. , Do not leave the plants in water for more than a day, the roots will begin to rot. , If you have washed the roots or the roots are not holding much soil, make a good size hole and spread the roots out in a fan.
Replace the soil, pressing firmly with the heel of your hand around the plant, and water the plants well so no large air pockets in the soil exist. , deeper) and water in well. , -
Step 3: Cut or dig around the hosta plant
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Step 4: starting 10cm/4 inches from the base of a small plant
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Step 5: to 35cm/18 inches for a very large clump.
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Step 6: If you are new at dividing hostas or other perennials
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Step 7: washing the dirt off the clump can be very helpful to see the individual plants and their rhizomes (from where the roots grow).
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Step 8: If possible
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Step 9: particularly if the hosta is not a large clump
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Step 10: separate the individual plants by hand
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Step 11: by gently forcing your thumbs between plant's stems
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Step 12: and easing the stems apart.
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Step 13: If the clump is very large
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Step 14: it may just be easier to use a serrated kitchen knife
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Step 15: to cut through the clump.
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Step 16: Start by spreading the roots so that you determine where you want to cut.
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Step 17: If possible
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Step 18: make the cut about halfway through the crown and then see if you can pull it apart by hand; use the same back and forth pulling motion.
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Step 19: Washing between cuts to remove sand and small rocks can also improve your insight into how the plant's stems are growing
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Step 20: and to see where to cut or pull apart.
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Step 21: You can also use the hacksaw to cut through the clump
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Step 22: by turning the clump on its side
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Step 23: but be careful that the saw doesn't get stuck
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Step 24: so prevent that by forcing the plant apart
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Step 25: either with your other hand or perhaps the handle of another garden tool
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Step 26: if the clump is huge and the saw is pretty deep into the clump.
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Step 27: Remove some older
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Step 28: larger leaves or cutting the foliage back at the time of dividing will reduce water loss and help to minimize shock.
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Step 29: Plant the divided plants.
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Step 30: Do not let the roots dry out too much.
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Step 31: If the plants' roots dry some before you get a chance to replant
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Step 32: soak the plant in a bucket of water for two to twelve hours.
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Step 33: For stem divisions resulting from pulling plants apart and which have a nice balanced root distribution
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Step 34: plant these divisions at their original level
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Step 35: so that the white basal portions of the stems are just under the ground and you cannot see them.
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Step 36: If you had to use the knife or hacksaw to cut the clump
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Step 37: plant these smaller now-divided clumps at the same height as they were growing
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Step 38: or just slightly deeper (1/3cm/1 to 1-1/2 in.
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Step 39: Keep newly divided hostas wet; keep plants from drying out for the first two weeks.
Detailed Guide
While many gardeners choose spring for time to move and divide plants, it can have a negative effect on the plants, especially in hotter climates.
It's preferable to divide hostas in the late summer and early fall, roughly 4 weeks before first frost.
Hostas are fairly tough plants, though, and can be divided at any time during the growing season if you carefully replant, water, and mulch the divided clumps.
Tamping down the soil around the root ball so that the plant can't be easily dislodged will insure greater success.
Often, if the clumps are large (say about 25cm/10 inches across at the base), you will find it easiest to use a fork with flat blades and a spade or shovel.
If the soil is very light and humus-y, and the plants are smaller, a long-bladed knife, preferably with a serrated blade, will work well.
A hacksaw is very helpful if the clump is very large.
Some folks like to have a garden hose handy, or a large bucket of clean water. , Once you have cut a circle around the clump, slide the spade underneath the clump and lift it out of the ground, or pry the clump from the ground with the fork. , Also wash the plant if you are unsure of how the individual plants are growing and you don't want to slice one in half (particularly if the hosta is a slow-growing expensive one).
Do not worry about damaging the roots with the water, because hostas' roots are tough. , To remove a stem from the crown, use a back and forth pulling motion and not a side-wise motion (hold the core plant in one hand, and grab the stem in the other, rotate the stem-holding back and forth), work the stem back and forth until the rhizome comes loose or breaks from the crown.
The rhizome will break at the appropriate point.
Even if you lose some of the plant stems, you'll still have enough of the rhizomes to produce a healthy new clump. , You can cut the clump in various sizes, such as simply in half, into thirds, or quarters. , Try to keep as many roots and leaves as possible, by making cuts through the crown but not into the roots.
Start by cutting the crown in half, if you are really careful you can navigate around the stems; if the clump is really large, sometimes it is just easier to cut in half without much concern that you cut a few stems in half, because the clump is such a monster anyway. , In this case, hold each half in one hand, and gently rotate the halves in opposite directions, then rotate back and forth each time applying a bit more pressure and simultaneously exerting pressure to move the halves away from each other.
If you can't pull it apart then make the cut deeper. ,,,, Do not think that a small piece might not grow.
It's amazing how resilient these plants are and you might as well plant the little pieces alongside a larger plant. , If you can not plant them right away, place some moist dirt or peat moss on the roots and put them away from direct sunlight, deep shade is good in hotter climes. , Do not leave the plants in water for more than a day, the roots will begin to rot. , If you have washed the roots or the roots are not holding much soil, make a good size hole and spread the roots out in a fan.
Replace the soil, pressing firmly with the heel of your hand around the plant, and water the plants well so no large air pockets in the soil exist. , deeper) and water in well. ,
About the Author
Laura White
Enthusiastic about teaching hobbies techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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