Building your garden doesn’t necessarily require a trip to the garden center every time you have a plot to fill. If you have certain plant varieties in your yard, like hostas, peonies, sedum, and phlox, you might have all you need to start sprouting new blooms with some simple garden division—no math required.

“Dividing plants is a simple yet powerful technique that keeps gardens vibrant and healthy,” says Mike Hrivnak, Director of Agronomy at Canopy Lawn Care.

Through a greater understanding of what dividing is, which plants need division, and how to successfully divide your plants, you can see more profuse blooms and lusher growth, all without any extra trips to the garden nursery.

What Is Dividing in Gardening?

Certain plants have a clumping growth habit that requires a special care technique known as dividing.

“Dividing is the process of splitting a mature plant into multiple smaller sections, each with its own roots and foliage, to be replanted,” Hrivnak says. “This technique is commonly used for perennials that grow in clumps, helping to rejuvenate plants that may have become overcrowded or less vigorous over time.”

It might sound counterintuitive, but the more you divide specific plants like the aforementioned hostas, phlox, and sedum, the healthier and more robust your garden will be.

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Benefits of Dividing a Plant

To get down to the nitty-gritty of exactly how your plants can benefit from division, Hrivnak shares the top reasons why this technique is worth putting into action with some of your perennials that are well-suited for the task.

It Encourages Healthier Growth

There’s no denying overcrowded plants compete for nutrients and water. When plants with clumping growth habits get out of control, they can become overcrowded, and thus, the competition for resources begins. Division can avoid this problem, allowing you to relocate some of the shoots, giving both the new and existing plants more space to thrive.

Similarly, division can help contain plants that tend to spread too aggressively, preventing these profuse growers from overtaking your yard—a garden care necessity, no matter how beautiful their blooms and foliage may be.

It Promotes More Profuse Blooming

While it might seem risky to start dividing your flowering plants, Hrivnak says it can pay off with more robust blooms in the future.

“Many perennials produce fewer flowers as they become too dense,” he says. “Dividing rejuvenates their blooming potential.”

It Can Be a Cost-Effective Way to Expand Your Garden

Perhaps one of the most enticing benefits of dividing your plants is just how cost-effective it can be when it comes to building your garden. The simple process can result in a slew of new plants that can be placed in other areas of your garden.

What to Do With a Divided Plant

Once a plant has been divided, it will need special care when it comes to replanting. Follow Hrivnak’s tips to ensure your new plants thrive.  

• Replant Immediately: Hrivnak says it’s imperative to keep the roots from drying out, so you should aim to get the new divisions into well-prepared soil right away.  
• Choose the Right Location: As with any plant, finding the right location is key to its success. Hrivnak says to look for a spot that meets the proper sunlight, soil, and drainage conditions for the plant variety.
• Water Thoroughly: A good soak after planting can help it establish, so aim to hydrate the plant immediately after replanting.
• Mulch Around the Base: Hrivnak advises keeping a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. This can help regulate soil temperature (whether from heat or cold) while also helping the plant retain necessary moisture.
• Keep an Eye on Your Plant: While it’s normal for some plants to wilt initially after replanting, Hrivnak says they should bounce back if they’re being cared for properly. If your plant isn’t perking up, go through a mental checklist of care requirements to see what you may be overlooking.

Plants That Must be Divided

The clumping habit of some perennials makes them prime candidates for division. Some varieties must be divided to prevent overcrowding, competing for nutrients and other resources if they’re to continue to thrive. Here Hrivnak shares a list of perennials that require occasional division to both prevent overcrowding and maintain their health.

Pro Tips for Successfully Dividing a Plant

Tackling plant division is easier than you might think. To start you off on the right foot, follow these pro tips.

• Choose Your Timing Wisely – Hrivnak recommends waiting until the spring or early fall to divide most plants. The harsh temperatures of the summer and the winter dormancy window can prove detrimental to the process.
• Water the Day Before – Avoid trying to lift and separate plants that are in dry soil, as this can harm the roots. Instead, water the plants the day before you intend to divide them.
• Use Sharp, Clean Tools – When making cuts to the plant, you’ll want to use a sharp tool, whether a knife or spade, to reduce stress on the plant.
• Divide into Healthy Sections – When you’re determining where and how to divide your plant, look for sections that have both multiple shoots and a healthy root system so they’re better able to establish themselves successfully.
• Trim Back Foliage – Hrivnak recommends cutting back some of the foliage to reduce water loss and promote root establishment. Your new plant might look a little sparse at first, but a good trim could give it a better chance of future success.
• Fertilize Lightly – While Hrivnak recommends using a balanced fertilizer as a means to support the new root system’s growth, he also warns not to overfeed. Using too much fertilizer can not only hurt the soil composition but can also lead to a sudden burst in growth without the proper root system to support it.