Top 7 Perennials Ideal for Division in Autumn: Replicate Treasured Plants and Enhance Blooming Frequency
**Best Perennials to Divide in the Fall: A Guide for Gardeners**
Autumn is the perfect time for gardeners to get their hands dirty and divide some of their perennials. By doing so, they allow the plants to establish themselves before winter, giving them a head start on the growing season. Here are some of the best perennials to divide in the fall, along with tips on how to do it:
**1. Daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrida)**
Daylilies are easily divided every three to five years to maintain their vigor and promote blooming. Wait until the plants have finished flowering, then dig around the plant, making sure to get as much of the root system as possible. Gently separate the roots, ideally on a cool, overcast day, and replant the divisions in well-draining, organic soil, watering thoroughly.
**2. Hostas**
Hostas become overcrowded and can benefit from division to maintain size and promote new growth. Dig up the whole plant, ideally after the foliage has died back, and gently separate the roots, making sure each section has at least one "eye" (where the new growth emerges). Replant in moist, well-draining soil.
**3. Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.)**
Coneflowers can become less vigorous over time. Dividing them helps maintain their health. Dig up the entire plant after it has finished blooming, gently pry apart the roots to separate the crowns, and replant in well-draining soil, ensuring each division has a crown.
**4. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)**
Bee balm can become invasive and benefit from regular division to control its spread. Dig up the plant in the fall, separating the roots gently, and replant divisions in moist, well-draining soil.
General Tips for Dividing Perennials in the Fall:
- Divide perennials about four weeks before the first frost to allow them time to establish before winter. - Divide on a cool, overcast day to minimize stress on the plants. - Ensure the soil is moist but not soggy, as this can lead to root rot. - Water plants thoroughly after replanting and keep the soil consistently moist until frost.
Some perennials, like milkweed and certain species of clematis, should not be divided because they are sensitive to root disturbance or have complex root systems. Always check the specific needs of a plant before attempting division.
Dividing perennials allows for the creation of more plants at no cost. Fall is an ideal time to divide perennials for propagation, managing plant size, and maintaining their health. Signs that perennials are overdue for division include fewer or smaller flowers, thin growth, spindly or weak stems, and fungal diseases or rot.
Veronica is a perennial that can be a groundcover or an upright plant with tall flower spikes. Lilies, such as daylilies, Easter lilies, and stargazer lilies, can be divided in fall for optimal growth. Dividing plants involves digging up perennial plants and splitting them into two or more sections. Lilies multiply in the soil as they grow.
Some plants have particular needs when undergoing division, but general tips include dividing plants when the soil is moist, on a cooler day, using a garden spade or fork, and replanting divisions as soon as possible. The best plants to divide in fall are those that bloom in spring and summer. It's best to divide a plant after flowering to allow divisions to put energy into creating new roots and leaves.
Divide Veronica every few years in the fall, using a sharp spade or knife to separate the roots. Bleeding heart is a small, shade-tolerant shrub known for its heart-shaped flowers. Fall is a good time to propagate bleeding heart through division. To divide lilies, lift them out of the ground and separate the clump of bulbs. Bearded irises should be divided after they are done blooming, in late summer or early fall.
When dividing peonies, use a sharp, clean knife to cut the roots and avoid planting too deep when replanting divisions. Replant bulbs right away, but small bulbs might not bloom for two or three years. Peonies produce large blooms in shades of pink and white. They do not like to be disturbed, so division is not necessary very often.
Use a sharp knife to separate the root clump of phlox into sections, each with two or three shoots and a healthy part of the root system. Early fall is an ideal time to divide phlox, which blooms with pretty pink flowers all summer. Divide perennials wisely, and enjoy the rewards of a flourishing garden next spring.
1.If you're planning to update your home-and-garden lifestyle and focus on your gardening, dividing perennials in the fall is an excellent way to expand your flower collection at no cost.
- Your lifestyle can be enriched by tackling fall gardening tasks like dividing daylilies, hostas, coneflowers, and bee balm, which are not only easy to divide but also thrive in well-draining soil.
