| If you've tried growing hostas, chances are you'd | | | | and regularly to avoid stress problems. |
| like to add more to your garden. The good news | | | | The only time when it's really a bad idea to divide |
| is that these easy-going, adaptable plants are as | | | | hostas is very late in the growing season, right |
| easy to propagate as they are to grow. | | | | before the weather turns seriously cold. Hostas |
| Propagation by division | | | | divided or planted at this time of year don't stand |
| Think division when you're ready to propagate | | | | as good a chance of developing enough root |
| your hostas. Making one plant into two or more is | | | | growth to see them over the winter. |
| a simple and effective way of increasing your | | | | How to make divisions: The division method that |
| hosta garden. It won't harm the "mother" plant at | | | | is fastest, easiest, and the least traumatic for the |
| all, and in fact older hostas may benefit greatly | | | | mother plant is to use a sharp spade, shovel, or |
| from being divided occasionally. | | | | trowel to "slice" though the still-buried rootball. |
| When to propagate: As hostas get older and | | | | Simply cut away a section (like a wedge of pie) |
| larger, you may notice bare spots in the middle of | | | | of the root clump without digging up the mother |
| the mature clump. Dividing the clump will enhance | | | | plant. Carefully remove the wedge and refill the |
| its appearance and eliminate bare spots. | | | | hole with soil and compost; the mother plant will |
| Best times for propagation: Springtime is perfect | | | | quickly fill in the area. |
| for dividing hostas. The process is easiest when | | | | Don't cut away more than half of the original |
| shoots are only a few inches high and leaves | | | | plant. |
| have not unfurled. Be careful about over-dividing, | | | | If the slicing method isn't feasible, you can dig out |
| though - a certain amount of root injury is | | | | the entire root clump, make divisions, and replant, |
| inevitable and some varieties may dry out quickly | | | | but this method is more traumatic for the mother |
| after division if the weather turns very warm. | | | | plant. To make divisions this way, dig around the |
| Hostas can actually be divided at any time during | | | | entire root clump and lift it carefully from the soil. |
| the summer, but when the leaves are fully | | | | If a lot of soil clings to the root clump, brush or |
| opened it's harder to make divisions without | | | | gently wash it away so you can see where to |
| causing collateral leaf damage. | | | | make your divisions. Make the actual divisions by |
| If you divide hostas when the weather is | | | | cutting with a clean, sharp knife. |
| extremely hot, be sure to water them thoroughly | | | | |