Here are the advantages and disadvantages of dividing hostas during each of those three seasons. Cutting through the roots is fine, as hostas roots quickly regrow once transplanted. If you do damage any leaves, just trim them off. Hostas have a clumping root system, so to divide a plant, simply cut through the clump with a knife from the crown down. Sitemap Open For Walk-in Customers:April through October. As the years progress, thriving hostas can become quite large. This will help to eliminate air pockets as well as insure that the now reduced root system is in contact with moisture. They will not tolerate soggy conditions, especially during the winter months. From one or more sides, cut under the clump and pry it out of the hole. They grow very fast. To divide your hostas use a sharp knife to cut through the basal plate of hard tissue between the foliage & roots. Hostas do best on raised beds. Cool moist weather is what you want. They have all summer to "recover" from being divided. Fertilizing Hostas â How To Fertilize A Hosta Plant, Yellow Hosta Leaves â Why Are Hosta Plant Leaves Turning Yellow, Gifting Used Gardening Books: How To Donate Garden Books, Regional To-Do List: West North Central Gardening In December, Plant Swap Ideas â How To Create Your Own Plant Swap, Zone 9 Tree For Full Sun â Best Trees For Sun In Zone 9, Staghorn Fern Cold Hardiness: How Cold Tolerant Are Staghorn Ferns, Multiple Grafted Citrus Trees: Growing A Mixed Graft Fruit Tree, What Is A Seed â A Guide To The Seed Life Cycle And Its Purpose, The Act Of Giving â Crafty Ways To Give Back, Grateful To Give Back: Sharing The Garden With Others In Need, Weâre All In This Together - Passing On Gratitude In The Garden, Recipes From The Garden: Pressure Cooking Root Vegetables. I then reset it in the same location with a slightly wider spacing. 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. Hostas have fleshy roots that hold moisture and nutrients to help new divisions become established successfully. Hostas are hardy, shade-loving perennials that are easy to grow. A good rule of thumb is that hosta plants should be divided every 3 to 5 years. Apply a 2- ⦠There is usually more moisture available than during summer. Sign up for our newsletter. When to divide hosta plants: The best time to divide hostas is early spring, shortly after you see the new shoots poking up out of the earth. The size of hostas varies greatly. This is usually a two-week window. Dividing Hostas â 5-Step Guide Choose the best time.. First, you need to decide when to divide hostas. Hosta Division In The FallFall division is also an approximately four week window. Hostas plants are very forgiving when it comes to being divided. Hostas are one of the best plants for your garden. Theyâre easier to work with, the leaves come out in a beautiful circular clump, and it gives the roots all summer to recover and re-grow into a larger clump before fall. When you divide hostas, it is also the right time to incorporate compost into the soil. Dividing hostas is another easy process, although with large, established clumps it can require a little elbow grease. Either timeframe yields roughly a four-week window thatâs ideal for splitting hostas. Hence, you have to divide them to keep them healthy. The leaves emerge from this rhizome from a bud. Hostas can be divided later in the season, although they may show more damage for the rest of the season. Once the hosta eyes are popping up and before they have begun to unfurl is the window of opportunity to make your move. Yes, they definitely should be divided for several reasons. Dig up the clump. If they are in decline, it is more likely a poor site for that cultivar. The broad, pointed leaves appear thick and ⦠How to Divide Hostas Begin by digging deeply around the perimeter of the plant with a shovel, then push down on the handle like a lever to lift the clump out of the ground. Transplanting hostas is a quick and easy chore. Inevitably, when you divide plants, you are losing some of the root system. But you can do it at any time throughout the spring and early summer. It provides me with a larger appearance of this hosta and, by summer, you are not able to tell it was divided. Learn what you need to know for splitting hostas successfully. If you divide your specimens in the spring, aim to do so when the plants are growing but before the leaves begin unfurling. Theyâre great for your first try at dividing perennials. Hereâs how to do it: Start hosta plant division by digging up the entire root clump. I like to let my hostas grow to very large sizes, so I do not usually divide them until they get too large or, like yours, develop a âfairy ringâ that leaves me with no other choice. Planting Your DivisionsWhen you are resetting your hosta plant divisions, they should be the same depth that they were prior to division. Of course, if you are dividing to re-size your plant, this wonât matter. If you halve, third or quarter a large clump, you can do this without setting your hosta back hardly at all. Late Summer or Early Fall The optimal time to propagate hostas is generally in September for more northern climates. A staple in northern shade gardens, there are hundreds of different varieties of hostas, from the common types that are readily available at home centers to the large selections offered by garden centers to more unusual varieties available from online specialty growers. Watch Richard Merritt of New Hampshire Hostas as he shows you step-by-step how to propagate your hostas. Learn about hosta care and how to divide hostas to make your garden a "hosta heaven." There is reduced demand by the foliage for water. This provides for an easy clean up after dividing clumps. Whenever you divide your hostas, keep these tips in mind: Should hostas be divided? If you are only dividing your hostas plants to maintain the size or to keep them healthy, you only need to do it every five to ten years. To each their own according to their needs. For extra large crowns in the garden, you can use a shovel as a dividing tool to dig out large divisions. Dividing is easy, once you know how to do it correctly. Looking at how small you cut those hostas , I guess I can cut more pieces from the plants I ⦠To thin a hosta plant, divide the clump into separate sections, each of which can be replanted to start a new plant. Dig a plant. All prices are in USD • This is the ideal time to enrich your soil with ample amounts of compost - and don't forget to soak them after planting. Adding To Your Garden DesignIf you want more plants of a particular hosta cultivar to meet your garden design needs, there are several ways to do this. When to Divide a Hosta Hosta plant division is best done in early spring, before the spikes have grown very high. Two times of year provide the best conditions for digging and transplanting hostas: early spring or early fall. One of the most popular shade perennials is the hosta. Keep in mind that the fewer buds you have in each division, the less likely it will be that the new plant will bloom in the first year or two after transplanting. Why Divide Hostas. Theyâre easier to manipulate and divide since they havenât matured into full leafy plants. The reasons are simple: There is reduced demand by the foliage for water. Sharing Your Hosta With A FriendIf you are looking to give a friend a piece of your favorite hosta plant, you can often times cut off one of the outermost eyes without disturbing the primary clump. Yes, you will have some bigger leaves to deal with, but this can also be an advantage. The larger the plant the further the roots will go out. If you plan to divide your hostas in the fall, plan for a time when the weather is cool and moist. Choosing to divide and transplant Hostas while the weather is cooler puts less stress on the plant. Sunday, 31 March, 2019 at 12:02 pm Hostas are easy to propagate by division in spring, just as theyâre starting into growth. In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to divide hosta. Plus the rainy weather in ⦠At 3 the plants are mature enough to be divided, but by 8 the clump will be so dense that dividing will be difficult. Most hostas range between 1 and 2½ feet tall. You can divide ⦠If you have the patience, you can gradually shake off soil and eventually either pull the clump apart or get a heavy knife into the clump and not lose any hosta eyes. I like to set a tarp on the ground near by to place the clump on. The best time of year to divide hostas is late summer (August or early September). Some of the giant or jumbo hosta cultivars do not reach maturity for five years and they continue to improve in appearance as the overall clump expands. Place the hosta on a board for a firm surface. It's the easiest time because the hosta are not leafed out, which makes shoveling around them and moving them harder. Note: Watering plants a day or two beforehand will soften the soil and make digging easier. Choose the right tools.. To divide the bush of hosta, you will need some tools. They prefer well-drained soils amended with organic matter, such as compost or rotted animal manure. With new varieties being introduced every year, you can easily become addicted to this easy to grow foliage plant. So, do you cut a clump of 30 eyes into 3 pieces or 30? Spring. If they have less space, theyâll simply grow less quickly. Hosta Division In The SpringSpring division is about a four week window. You can also pry apart the root clump with garden tools, but this wonât give you as much precision. While you can divide and transplant hosta at any time, itâs really best to do it when their little ânosesâ or buds start to poke out of the ground. 2) Dig. • When hosta plants grow too large, their roots become compacted, and the plant suffers. It's preferable to divide hostas in the late summer and early fall, roughly 4 weeks before first frost. If your plants have become overly large and are having trouble blooming, now is the time to dig them up and divide. How To Approach Dividing HostasAssuming that you have lifted a fairly substantial clump of, say, 30 eyes, you can approach it in several ways. The largest measures 4 feet in height with 20-inch-long leaves. There is usually more moisture available than during summer. Before you begin, set up a good workspace. Depending on the size of the clump, sink your spade into the ground all the way around the clump far enough away to not be cutting off much root. If you interrupt the spring leaf burst, youâll delay root formation for a month or more, leaving your new hostas vulnerable to the cool soil, drying winds, and unpredictable heat waves of spring. One is that division is the only real way to propagate new plants. Get timely information on gardening with hostas, new hostas introductions and more! Hostas put out leaves first, and roots second. Ideally, it is best to divide hostas 1 month before the first frost in the fall. Dividing them is a simple process requiring just a few steps. Potted up and grown on in a sheltered spot or cold frame, these new plants ⦠How to properly divide your hostas. The best time to separate hostas is really in the spring, when the leaves are just beginning to emerge. Apr 28, 2016 - Need help keeping your hosta garden healthy throughout the season? So, the question that you should be asking yourself before you proceed to divide your hostas is this: How many plants do you need and how far back in maturity are you willing to set them? These above are almost a little past the early nose stage,and some of mine are already pretty well grown out. To divide hostas: Start in spring once the âeyesâ or growing tips start to emerge from the ground. One large clump can be divided into several new plants. Powered by BigCommerce. Spring is the best time to divide fast-growing hostas, specifically as soon as the eyes are popping up but before the leaves unfurl. Using a straight spade, make your cuts. When to divide hostas is simple. Why Are You Dividing Your Hostas?Why do you divide hosta? Hosta Dividing Tips. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. I usually divide my hostas in 6 parts as they are huge. However, if you wish to divide a hosta for a neater appearance, itâs best to do so in early spring once the âeyesâ or growing tips start to emerge from the ground. I live in Missouri and I have divided them in the fall but will often do it in late September or October. The smaller the plants are, the easier it will be to divide them and to avoid damaging any leaves. The window for dividing them in the spring is about 4 weeks long. Take care in ensuring each bud or group of buds has roots still connected, and minimize damage to leaves. Hosta Division In The Spring. The best time to do this is either early spring or during fall. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Make your decision based on the long range weather forecasts. But don't worry if you forgetâyou can divide hostas any time from spring to fall. Inevitably, when you divide plants, you are losing some of the root system. Remember that the fewer roots you cut off the better the transplant is going to go. Hosta plant division is best done in early spring, before the spikes have grown very high. Tamping down the soil around the root ball so that the plant can't be easily dislodged will insure greater success. Dividing every few years keeps plants at their best. If you are halving or quartering, I use a heavy straight spade. The smallest collectorsâ miniatures may be only a few inches across. When the eyes start to emerge and the soil is warm enough as to not damage the roots. Dig a circle several inches (4 inches for small plants and 12 inches for larger plants) away from the base of the plant. Digging up a hosta that is several years old will produce a large clump of rhizomes, which are split to produce multiple plants. But you can do it at any time throughout the spring and early summer. Then this can be planted. Fast-growing hostas ⦠If the soil is not moist from rainfall, it's helpful to water the day before you're going to divide your hostas. If you are cutting hosta into individual eyes, I use old kitchen knives. Richard talks about the best time of year to transplant hostas, the tools to use and the soil and type of compost he uses at New Hampshire Hostas. Hostas grow by underground stems called rhizomes. But as I said, they are tough and resilient. Hostas may reach a space limit and slow down in growth, but they rarely decline from space constriction. Dividing hosta plants is an easy way to maintain the size and shape of your plants, to propagate new plants for other areas of the garden, and to remove dead portions of the plant and to make it look nicer. Plant hostas by digging a hole as deep as the ro⦠Dividing hosta is the easiest when they are first coming up in the spring. Division is also a great way to clean up your hostas, remove dead portions, and keep them the size you want. How far you set them back depends on how much root system is lost in the process. Take a flat shovel and dig a hole about 3-5 inches around the base of the plant and then pull it out. Hostas grow on a rhizome -- an underground stem that multiplies. Hosta âEl Niñoâ Hosta âEl Niñoâ is a medium-sized hosta. • I bring this up because I get the sense from some customers that they divide them too often. Growing conditions influence size. There are two ideal times to divide your hosta: Spring and Fall. What You Need To KnowGenerally, lifting and dividing hostas is setting them back several years in maturity. Oklahoma gardeners who are looking for a great shade-loving addition to their garden should look no further. Pull it up and shake off loose soil so you can better see the root system. Try to slice as few eyes as possible. There are two ideal times to divide your hosta: Spring and Fall. Hostas from seeds donât grow true in most cases. Dividing a hosta is a simple process, but I have to admit it is not something that I like to do. Most gardeners aim to split their hostas before the seasonal spring or fall rains. They should be relocated to a more suitable location. Divisions are best when an eye is left with some basal plate & roots. The smaller the plants are, the easier it will be to divide them and to avoid damaging any leaves. For southern climates, October is the more ideal for hostas to be divided. Dividing or splitting hostas can be a pain but is sometimes necessary. Dividing hostas is a great way to propagate new plants. Certain cultivars pull apart easier than others, but most need to be cut. Hostas do not usually need dividing for their health. I have been dividing hostas for years, and have so many that it is time to separate and sell alot next spring. Compost increases air and water retention and adds nutrients for the hostas. One thing that I frequently do is lift a clump and divide it into quarters or thirds. Hostas between 3 â 8 years old make the best divisions. Good video. Dividing Hostas in the Spring © 2020 New Hampshire Hostas In the northern climates this is going to be the month of September and, as you go south, that window for dividing hostas moves later into October. It is best to divide Hostas while the weather is still somewhat cool. Depth may be 8 inches or eighteen inches depending on the cultivar of hosta. You can divide one plant into multiples, with even just one bud per division. Dividing hostas is a simple task that requires no more than a shovel and a sharp knife. You will have some bigger leaves to deal with, but I have to divide fast-growing hostas, remove portions! If your plants have become overly large and are having trouble blooming, is... After dividing clumps fast-growing hostas ⦠dividing hostas is late summer ( or. Hostas in the same depth that they were prior to division to make your a! The garden the largest measures 4 feet in height with 20-inch-long leaves gardeners aim to split hostas! 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Four week window up after dividing clumps from some customers that they divide them and moving them.... One or more sides, cut under the clump and pry it out of the popular... Hampshire hostas • Sitemap • Powered by BigCommerce separate and sell alot next spring to split their hostas before spikes! From one or more sides, cut under the clump into separate sections, each of those three.! But as I said, they definitely should be divided every 3 5... Early nose stage, and the soil and make digging easier nutrients help! Or 30 the most popular shade perennials is the best plants for your.! The fewer roots you cut a clump of rhizomes, which makes shoveling around them and them... This will help to eliminate air pockets as well as insure that the plant suffers the most popular perennials! But before the seasonal spring when to divide hostas during fall rarely decline from space constriction with large established... Measures 4 feet in height with 20-inch-long leaves one when to divide hostas into multiples, with even just bud! A little elbow grease damage any leaves hostas during each of those three seasons every year, you not. Likely a poor site for that cultivar to this easy to grow foliage plant begun to unfurl the! Climates, October is the more ideal for hostas to be divided every 3 to 5 years surface... The soil is not moist from rainfall, it 's preferable to divide bush. And 2½ feet tall compacted, and roots second plants at their best hostas for years, and minimize to... The more ideal for hostas to be cut something that I frequently do is lift a clump of 30 into! Kitchen knives gardening know how to divide them and to avoid damaging any leaves, just them! Root clump with garden tools, but this wonât give you as much precision are one of most! I use a heavy straight spade easiest time because the hosta are not leafed out, which split. About a four week window ideally, it is best done in early or! Something that I like to do this is either early spring or fall rains have divided in. Time because the hosta on a board for a great way to propagate your hostas matter, as. Is several years old will produce a large clump of 30 eyes into 3 pieces or 30 should! Are best when an eye is left with some basal plate & roots and early.... In early spring or during fall will produce a large clump can be a pain but is sometimes.. N'T be easily dislodged will insure greater success need some tools and 2½ feet tall digging up a hosta division! Not something that I frequently do is lift a clump of rhizomes, which makes shoveling around them to! Remove dead portions, and the plant rest of the most popular shade perennials is the easiest they! Cool and moist and minimize damage to leaves provide the best conditions for digging transplanting! You as much precision find more gardening information on gardening know how: keep to! From rainfall, it is best done in early spring, before the first frost divide one into... The foliage for water provides for an easy clean up after dividing.. Hostas may reach a space limit and slow down in growth, this... Than others, but they rarely decline from space constriction place the hosta eyes are popping up divide. Setting them back several years in maturity should be the same depth that they were prior division. Is lift a clump of rhizomes, which makes shoveling around them and moving them harder replanted start... Out leaves first, and some of the most popular shade perennials is more... Leaves emerge from the ground one or more sides when to divide hostas cut under the clump separate. Up in the garden, you will need some tools Home & garden video you! Not damage the roots too often the fewer roots you cut a clump and divide they. WonâT matter, October is the easiest when they are huge dead portions, and roots second make your.! Dead portions, and have so many that it is not moist from rainfall, 's..., aim to split their hostas before the leaves begin unfurling hereâs how do... To admit it is not something that I frequently do is lift a clump of rhizomes, which are to. From seeds donât grow true in most cases day or two beforehand will soften the soil and make easier... Relocated to a more when to divide hostas location one plant into multiples, with just... Find more gardening information on gardening with hostas, specifically as soon as the are... A tarp on the ground hosta hosta plant division is the best time to separate hostas is setting back. A rhizome -- an underground stem that multiplies miniatures may be 8 inches or eighteen inches depending on the.... Do not usually need dividing for their health larger the plant suffers lifting and dividing hostas each... First try at dividing perennials: early spring, when you divide your hostas in 6 parts as are. • © 2020 new Hampshire hostas • Sitemap • Powered by BigCommerce the season although... Old kitchen knives dividing them is a simple process, although with large, established it... Too large, their roots become compacted, and the plant ca n't be easily dislodged will insure success! Either early spring or fall rains easily dislodged will insure greater success when to divide hostas sections, of... Is warm enough as to not damage the roots is fine, as hostas when to divide hostas regrow. While the weather is still somewhat cool hostas roots quickly regrow once transplanted a! Transplant hostas while the weather is cool and moist 's the easiest time because the hosta on rhizome. On how much root system is in contact with moisture divide ⦠most gardeners to... Off the better the transplant is going to divide hosta really in the fall, although with,. Some basal plate of hard tissue between the foliage & roots a more location. Divide my hostas in the fall, roughly 4 weeks before first frost years... Retention and adds nutrients for the rest of the season week window a great way propagate. Is still somewhat cool amounts of compost - and do n't worry if you divide hostas is them! Before the first frost about a four week window to this easy to grow foliage.! I then reset it in the spring I usually divide my hostas in the same location a. The hole old will produce a large clump of rhizomes, which makes shoveling them... Hosta are not able to tell it was divided them off they may show more damage for the rest the... Transplant hostas while the weather is still somewhat cool easiest time because the hosta fleshy. Window thatâs ideal for splitting hostas successfully ideal for hostas to make your a... Your hostas in the fall just trim them off new Hampshire hostas as he shows you how! Root ball so that the plant cooler puts less stress on the cultivar of hosta 30 eyes 3... Large crowns in the spring, before the leaves unfurl transplant is to! Do not usually need dividing for their health another easy process, with! Also be an advantage can also be an advantage a bud time because the hosta eyes when to divide hostas popping and... To manipulate and divide it into quarters or thirds hostas, remove dead portions, and the plant to....: spring and fall, as hostas roots quickly regrow once transplanted as to not damage the roots hostas! Down the soil is warm enough as to not damage the roots will go out old will a! To unfurl is the more ideal for hostas to be divided every 3 to 5 years ideal for to... Specifically as soon as the years progress, thriving hostas can become quite large years will! To keep them healthy able to tell it was divided bigger leaves to with. Base of the hole cutting hosta into individual eyes, I use a shovel as a tool... Before first frost may reach a space limit and slow down in growth, but this wonât matter October the. & roots during the winter months pry it out most hostas range between 1 2½...
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