Hosta Advice

Hi, Just wondering if anyone can advise me on when (and how !) to split Hosta's ? I inherited some beautiful ones with my house but they are now huge and I don't know where to start ! :cnfs:
Any advice gratefully received !:flag:

Many Thanks

 

According to the RHS website, around now is a good time!

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0305/divide_hostas.asp

 

Yes, now is a very good time to split Hostas, and don't be afraid to make several new plants out of the biggest old ones.

It will invigorate all the new plants you obtain and you will really benefit from the process.:gnthb:

 

Mine are all in the ground. So far all the time I've split them when they are in full leaf. And there are two ways I've done it. 1. I've dug out all of it, careful to get under the roots well by rocking around the soil with the shovel. Then lay the hosta down on another part of the ground in a prostate position, leafs out ward and the root ball laying sideways. And then taking a good shovel and a quick fast hard slice through the ball in half and then each half in quarter. Now I have three other spots ready. So put the 1/4 cuts in the holes keeping an eye on the same soil level from which it came, and cover, then mulch. Return the final 1/4 to original if that is the plan.

2.The easier, lazy way. and only if the original is just a little to big. I eye the side of the hosta that looks a little off. Then with a shovel rock that side loose from the ground. And then position the shovel down at the cut away part I want and shove shovel in the ground. Taking away the hunk now. Then pack some soil in the area that the roots are gone from.

Either way, none every looked harmed. I don't recall ever doing with without leaves on it. However, in the beginning when they arrived from a mail order they do come as babies without leaves.

And always, with any new plantings, water extra.

 

Thanks for those replies, very useful, I will have a go at tackling them and hopefully get more plants !
Thanks all !

 

They split very easily
Just dig a little piece off the edge of the existing and re plant
It will grow well for you with no problems
The best time to do it is now before leaf out, but they are very good sufferers