During the summer, your perennials can grow out of hand and dividing them is a good way to expand your garden while maintaining its appearance. If you notice that your plants do not bloom as they once did and appear to have dense clumps, it may be time to divide your plant. Some plants may be divided up until the fall, so find out first when the best time is to divide your plants.

When dividing a plant, the first step is to dig up as much of the plant as possible without hurting the plant. The root ball, which goes into the soil about 12 inches deep and is about 3 – 6 inches larger than the diameter of the plant, should be carefully dug up. The Master Gardener D-Handle Garden Spade is great for digging up a variety of plants and makes a clean cut.

Once the plant and root ball has been dug up, the entire plant clump should be divided into two pieces or more depending upon the size of your plant. Divide the plant clump into sections that include the plant and roots. It is a good idea to quickly divide the plant after removing it from the ground and replant the plant sections into the ground. Division of the plant may be accomplished by using a trowel such as the Fiskars Graphite Handle Trowel. This trowel makes dividing your plants easy and quick.

Remove any dead or shriveled pieces from the plant before replanting and make sure to water the plant as soon as possible to prevent the roots from drying out. If you are placing the plant back into the original area, it is a good idea to add some fertilizer and some new soil that is rich in nutrients.

After dividing and transplanting your plant, make sure to thoroughly water the plant to keep the roots hydrated and stimulate new growth. The Swan Soaker Garden Hose is great for helping to keep your newly divided plants hydrated. Just lay the hose along the edge of the flower bed and turn the water on. This will help to hydrate the roots and allow the plant to thrive.