How to Plant Flowers from Root Divisions (Perennials Only)

While the beginning of a flower from seed, transplanting from cuttings can be used for both annual and perennial flowers, only perennial plants can be propagated by root divisions.

Plant root sections have two purposes:

1.  It reinvigorates the flowering perennials currently in your garden, producing fuller plants and more flowers.

Why would remove a plant from the ground and cut its roots help rather than hurt it?

All year growth of a perennial says it continues to develop new roots and new shoots sprout. All those new parts of the plant to compete for the same water, sunlight and nutrients, so that each member gets proportionally less of it needs as time goes on. The distribution of the roots and replanting them allow each part of the now larger root system it needs to flourish get.

2. Free plants - Since each plant's root system some several times can be divided, it will give additional plants no extra cost.

Do not want to expand your flower garden? Share a neighbor! No neighbors? Add the extra compost heap.

In general, perennial flowering plants should be divided every three years, but there are exceptions. Rather than setting a division schedule, it might be better to take your plants and they split when all signs began to appear:

• Weaker or smaller tribes
• Fewer flowers
• Yellow or light green stems or leaves
• Plant begins to die at the center of forest

To divide the roots ...

1. Wait until it blossomed into the plant when your climate is cool and wet - usually in spring or autumn. This will vary from region and the perennial you share. If in the autumn, give the roots at least two months to repair themselves before the ground freezes.
2. Prepare the planting site ahead of time to the time of land to a minimum. The hole should be two times bigger than the original root system with a little seaweed fertilizer liquid is added to the hole in preparation for the new resident.
3. The plant water the day before you cut it.
4. Cut overhead grows to about 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground.
5. When digging the planting, keep the root ball together by digging with a shovel about a foot (30 cm) to the base of the plant and prying it from the bottom.
6. When drag it out of the ground, NOT shake any land.
7. Divide the roots based on the type of root system (indicated for each plant in our Flower Growing Guide):

• Planted - compact root system with shoots that emerge from buds to the original crown. Use a shovel or machete to cut the crown in as many pieces as you want, but be sure each piece has at least a few buds attached.
• Spread - roots are relatively shallow, spreading away from the original crown and is separate from the original crown with a partially separate root system. Just pull each individual root system apart with your hands.
• Rhizome - very thick stems that spread away from the original plant (Ginger is a rhizome). Use a knife to divide them into sections, each with a few bumps.
• Root tubers - a "modified lateral root" that was converted to a food storage organ (a yam is a tuber). They serve nutrients for plants using storage off-season.

8.  Plant the divisions serve with the crown just above its previous level above the ground.

9.  Water and beat down the ground to the point that there is probably no underground holes remaining. The level of the crown above the ground now at the point of the original plant.

10.  Keep the soil moist consistently for at least the next few weeks.