We divide plants for two main reasons. This is a good thing, because digging up and dividing plants can stress them out.
Photography by Joy Yagid.
It’s time to divide when you can’t see the garden path. Plants can have traditional roots (like black-eyed Susans), fibrous clumps (like ostrich ferns), rhizomes (like hostas), crowns (like Joe Pye weed), or tubers (like daylilies).
Some of the tools you may need for proper division. The hori hori can do double duty as both a trowel and a knife and is the reason I prefer it.
What You’ll Need
Dividing black-eyed Susans, and most of the aster family for that matter, is pretty simple.
How to Divide Black-Eyed Susans (Traditional Roots)
The roots are very, very fibrous. You can cut them in half with a sharp knife or your hori hori.
How to Divide Ferns (Fibrous Roots)
Hostas are easy to divide and very forgiving of the process. Hostas grow outwards via their rhizomes. Hostas are almost indestructible (deer excluded) and can last several days to even a week in a pile in the shade until you decide where to replant, as long as you don’t let them dry out.
How to Divide Hostas (Rhizome Roots)
Because of the size of Joe Pye weed, you may need some help. You can use the spade or a knife to cut the crown into sections.
How to Divide Joe Pye Weed (Crown Roots)
Indestructible daylilies can be divided by hand. Daylilies are very tough plants and are simple to divide.
How to Divide Daylilies (Tuberous Roots)