Herbaceous Divisions for Spring

Hi All,

I know to divide phlox now-before it gets to lush but whilst I can see its new growth ( and remember where I planted it) -any others???

 

I've always gone along the line that when they start to get the new growth is the time to divide, but prepared to be told otherwise. I wouldn't divide hostas yet as they haven't shown any signs of life yet.

 

No we did propagation by division the other day and our tutor told us exactly the same thing although he said that others do disagree:wink:

 

I can`t remember where I first heard it, but I have always done so-most of my division is done in spring-although some I do when there`s a need-say because of congestion or ( oops ) because I have accidentally chopped a chunk off with over zealous digging.

As far as the hostas go-after many attempts I have given them over-the slugs just eat them regardless.

 

Most of the perenials can be split up now, the trick is to do it the day before they start back into growth!

It's the best time for splitting grases, and fleshy rooted or slightly tender plants.

I'd be happy doing Hostas now, they're toughies!

 

lobelia victoria. I plan on dividing mine soon

 

On the subject of lobelia victoria, I collected seed heads/pods from mine last year. Anyone had any success on growing them from seed?

 

I attempted this last year. All germinated but then went away for a week and the neighbours forgot to water them. Many died off and the remaining ones just sat there doing nothing and eventually died off. Finally I recycled the now bone dry compost in the garden and one plant suddenly sprouted! I am awaiting to see if it comes back this year.

 

Worth a try then. I would fill the garden with these beautiful plants. Seeds sound like the ideal way to do that.

 

Lobelia Queen Victoria are a delight to split. Because they are a dubiously hardy here in Yorkshire, I lift mine in autumn, splitting them as I go to get them into small pots, which I overwinter in a coldframe. Then in spring I remove them and a number can be split again. This way I have amassed over 60 plants from the original one, and this allows me to plant them very close together for a good show, as they grow upwards rather than outwards.

I know almost nothing about ornamental grasses, but I was reading a book about them yesterday and will pass on what I have read so far. Grasses are split into two groups, warm season and cool season. Warm season are the grasses that we mostly grow in gardens. They are called warm as they wait until the warmth of the summer to start growing, They then grow rapidly and flower in mid to late summer. This group includes Miscanthus, Cortaderia, Panicum, Pennisetum etc. These can only be divided in late spring or early summer after they have started into growth. It is usually disasterous to divide them at any other time.

All others are called cool season grasses. These include Poa (meadow grass), Carex, Briza and Stipa. These can be divided and transported at almost any time except when dormant at the height of summer.