2022 Spring Home and Garden

Page 6 2022 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April / May 2022 2022 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April / May 2022 Page 7 *When dividing plants in the fall, time it for four to six weeks before the ground freezes for the plants roots to become established. This is particularly important in colder, northern climates. The act of cutting into your big beautiful plant may be a little intimidating to some gardeners. “What if I do it wrong and kill everything?” Sometimes the best way to get some assurance that you are capable of doing something is to watch it done by someone else. This video gives you a quick overview of how to divide three types of perennials, clumping, spreading, and woody. Additional tips from the University of Minnesota Extension include: Divide perennials on a cloudy, overcast day as dividing on a hot sunny day can cause the plants to dry out. Water the soil a day in advance if the area to be worked on is dry. Ideally, divide plants when there are a couple days of showers in the forecast to provide enough moisture for the new transplants. The UM Extension offers readers a top notch list of “what, when and how” to divide perennials. The 10 page PDF gives direction for dividing and re-planting 125 common perennials. This is a printable document that can be put in your garden journal for future reference. Dividing Perennials, University of Minnesota Extension click here to see pdf So, take a look around your yard this spring. Do you have perennials that you love and wish you had more of? If so, don’t run to the store, instead run for the garden spade and tools. You can be sure you are getting the same plant you have now and you can save quite a bit of money in the long run. [Nila Smith] Sources How and when to divide perennials | UMN Extension Dividing Perennials - Why, When and How to Divide Perennials (gilmour.com) multiple plants helps the plant perform better. * When perennials are divided, there is more space for roots to grow and absorb nutrients and water. * Dividing perennials can help manage the size of the plant. * You will have more plants of the same kind to add to your garden when you divide a perennial. So, how do you know that your perennials need to be divided and are not just simply very large healthy plants? The UM extension also offers tips for determining this. After a few years in the garden, these perennials may start to produce smaller blooms, develop a ‘bald spot’ at the center of their crown, or require staking to prevent their stems from falling over. All of these are signs that it is time to divide. When plants are large and healthy you may want to divide them even if they are not overcrowded. Do this to expand your garden and save money at the same time by not buying new plants. To assure the best results and keep both the parent and the new plant healthy be sure to consider the time of year that you do the dividing. Some plants are best divided in the spring while others would prefer to be divided in the fall. UM offers more good advice on when to do your dividing. Divide fall blooming perennials in the spring because: *New growth is emerging and it is easier to see what you are doing. *Smaller leaves and shoots will not suffer as much damage as full-grown leaves and stems. *Plants have stored up energy in their roots that will aid in their recovery. *Rain showers that generally come along with the early season are helpful. *Plants divided in spring have the entire growing season to recover before winter. Divide spring and summer blooming perennials in the fall because *There is less gardening work to do in the fall compared with spring. *It is easy to locate the plants that need dividing. *Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (Paeonia spp.), Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and Siberian iris (Iris siberica) are best divided in the fall. CONTINUED u