Week 20 > You are reading Week 21 - May 20th, 2024 > Week 22

Perennial Division

Division is a common method for multiplying herbaceous perennials, though certain plants such as hellebores, coral bells, lupines, and goatsbeard are sensitive to root disturbance.

Perennial division benefits both the gardener and the plants themselves by maintaining their youth and vitality and preventing overcrowding.

Also, if a plant grew too much, that is a good sign it adapted to thrive under your garden conditions, which is an implied guarantee its offspring will too.

Perennials need to be divided every four or five years, and they show it by growing big woody clumps that hollow up in the middle.

When this happens, remove the entire root system, break up the clump into several parts with roots attached, and plant them separately.

Avoid disturbing plants during their active season by dividing summer and fall perennials in the spring and spring perennials in the fall.

The new plants may exhibit some transplant stress. Be patient with them while they look pathetic, and don't worry: they eventually recover.

Speaking of perennials which don't like their roots disturbed, peonies are a perfect example. Their large clumps live eighty years, and grow very long tap roots. You can take root cuttings, but do so while the plant is still young, make sure the pieces have at least two eyes, and prepare to wait three years for the clumps to get back in shape: first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap.

Cuttings

This is the favorite propagation method of professional growers, because it allows for the mass cloning of plants.

Cuttings can be taken from the stems, leaves or roots, and rely on the plants' self-preservation mechanism which prompts them to regrow their roots or stems.

Soft cuttings are taken from the green and flexible stems of plants like mint, basil, mums, rosemary or lavender. These plants readily grow roots when placed in water. Change the water daily to give them fresh oxygen and prevent the spread of bacteria, and place the cuttings in bright light to encourage root growth.

Hard cuttings are taken from woody shrubs like lilacs, roses, and weigela. Cut a 6 inch woody, but still green stem with at least five leaves, bruise the ending before planting, and cover it with a glass jar to maintain even moisture. Rooting powder, honey, or sticking the stem in a potato can help the cuttings along, although I have to say, the potato always wins. You know the cutting grew roots if it shows fresh growth.

For root cuttings, dig around the plant until you expose a lateral root, at least pencil thick, cut it from the base, divide it into 4-inch pieces with one or two eyes and replant them. This method works for phlox, Japanese quince, lilacs and poppies.

African violets and hydrangeas are best propagated using leaf cuttings. Choose long-stemmed young leaves that won't be easily uprooted and ensure consistent moisture levels.

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Week 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Week 22 Week 23 Week 24 Week 25 Week 26 Week 27 Week 28 Week 29 Week 30 Week 31 Week 32 Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 Week 36 Week 37 Week 38 Current Week 40 Week 41 Week 42 Week 43 Week 44 Week 45 Week 46 Week 47 Week 48 Week 49 Week 50 Week 51 Week 52