BEDHEAD GARDEN CLUB- DIVIDING HOSTAS



  ITS TIME TO LEARN  GARDENING  MATH.  WHERE  YOU  START  BY DIVIDING  AND  END UP MULTIPLYING.  FIRST LETS DISCUSS WHEN IT IS TIME TO DIVIDE A HOSTA. THE PLANT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND AT LEAST 10 INCHES  IN DIAMETER AT THE CROWN, THE PART CLOSEST TO THE SOIL.  IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO REMOVE HALF OF THE PLANT LEAVING THE OTHER HALF UNTOUCHED, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA IF YOU ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF A HOSTA BED.  I FIND THAT OVERGROWN HOSTAS ARE PRONE TO SLUG INFESTATIONS. IN THIS CASE, DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF A LARGE SHADE TREE, THIS SPOT IS MUCH TO SUNNY AND HOT FOR  THIS SHADE LOVING PERENNIAL.



WITH A SHARP SPADE PLACED ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE CROWN, PUSH IT IN AS FAR AS IT WILL GO AND PRY THE PLANT FROM THE GROUND. FOR LARGER PLANTS YOU MAY HAVE TO DIG IN SEVERAL PLACES TO GET THE PLANT TO COME OUT. THE PLANT MAY RESIST AT FIRST BUT THEY HAVE A TOUGH ROOT SYSTEM THAT WILL HOLD THE PLANT AND ROOT BALL TOGETHER.

 A HOSTA PLANT REMOVED FROM THE GROUND

WITH YOUR SPADE CUT THE CROWN IN TWO. IF THE PLANT IS LARGER YOU CAN DIVIDE IT IN MULTIPLE PIECES. EACH  DIVISION  SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 INCHES AT THE CROWN.

IF THE SPADE IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO USE YOU CAN USE A KNIFE OR SAW TO CUT THRU  THE CROWN AND THEN PULL THE ROOTS APART.

A NICE SIZED DIVISION READY FOR A NEW HOME.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ADD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOIL,LIKE  PEAT MOSS OR COMPOST.  PLANT THE HOSTAS AT THE SAME DEPTH  AS THEY WERE GROWING BEFORE AND WATER WELL.  CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST MASTERED ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION. OR IS IT PROPAGATION? MAYBE BOTH.