The weather has finally moderated here in central Alabama, and it’s actually pleasant to work out in the garden. I have a number of chores ahead of me including more weeding than I really want to consider.
But I also have one chore that I actually look forward to tackling. That’s dividing perennials. There is something very satisfying about taking one large plant and dividing it into two or more plants. Sometimes those new plants all go into my garden, but I also like to share my bounty with friends and family.
There are several good reasons to take time and divide your perennials. First, you can increase the number of plants you have. Dividing can help you both rejuvenate plants as well control their size. Some perennials can spread fairly quickly and outgrow their original planting areas. Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) planted in a wet or boggy area seem to expand overnight. I had to divide these yearly until I finally wised up and planted them in drier parts of the yard where they expand much slower.
Dividing rejuvenates some perennials and stimulates better blooming. Other perennials tend to spread out from their original center leaving bare spots. Dividing these types lets you fill open areas in your beds while increasing the number of plants as well.
Many of the perennials in my garden can be divided either in the spring or early fall. I prefer the fall because I think it gives plants plenty of time to establish new roots and settle into their new spots before the blistering heat of Alabama summers sets in.
Check out this publication about perennials from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The folks over at Clemson also have this excellent fact sheet about dividing perennials.