When And How To Divide Hostas For Transplanting

With the coming of spring my thoughts always turn to the garden and what I need to do. Dividing my Hostas is just one of the items on my to-do list and while it's fresh in my mind I thought I would post a brief explanation of the division process.

Dividing your Hostas will help to eliminate overcrowding, which over time can result in die back, and less robust foliage. Dividing and transplanting overcrowded Hosta plants, also provides new starts to fill out your beds without another expensive visit to the garden center. 

 If you've never divided your hostas before don't worry, it's a fairly simple task, preformed with nothing more than a spade and some elbow grease. Dividing those Hostas will keep your shade garden looking it's best, so get out and give it a try.

Is It Time To Transplant

The first question most folks have is "How do you tell if it is time to transplant?" Any of the following conditions may indicate that it is time to divide and transplant.

1. Your Hostas simply out grows there current location.
2. You need more plants to fill out your bed.
3. You start to notice that the plants are starting to die out in the center and the foliage is generally not as robust as normal.

As a general rule of thumb, plan on having to divide and transplant your Hostas every 2 to 3 years.

Image Courtesy Of: Terren Peterson, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ultimate Reference Guide To Growing Hostas

This beautifully illustrated book has quickly become my go to reference for all things Hosta. Inside you will find a wide range of information that will help successfully grow and care for Hostas. If you are interested in learning more about using these versatile plants in your garden you absolutely must add this volume to your library.

The New Encyclopedia of Hostas
Were I to recommend one book for people interested in growing Hostas this would be it.
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How To Divide and Transplant Hostas

Dividing and transplanting Hostas is not rocket science, the best way to learn how to do it is to get in there and give it a try. The Hosta is a hardy robust plant and your not likely to do any lasting damage by attempting to divide them. If you're still worried, here are 6 easy tips to help get you started.

1. Cut around the entire clump of Hostas you intend to divide with a spade.
2. If the clump is of manageable size use your shovel or spade as a lever to lift it out of the ground
3. Wash the clump thoroughly, so you can see the crowns and to help separate the roots. It may be possible to gently break apart the crowns by hand, otherwise an old butcher knife will work to cut the crowns, but try to keep the cutting to a minimum. Make a cut through the crown 1 or 2 inches deep, then try pulling the clump apart. Make the cut progressively deeper as necessary.
4. For larger plants too difficult to get out of the ground I simply divide them right where they are. To do this dig around the clump, then with the point of a spade cut the clump in 1/2 or 1/3. Use your spade to lift each division individually. (This is not the recommended method and somone may yell at me, but I have done this many times with no ill effect.)
5. Move your divisions to their new location immediately and replant them to the depth at which the were previously growing.
6. Water the the plants into there new location and continue to water frequently for the next month or so. A little controlled release fertilizer, will help to promote rapid root growth. I use 13-13-13 .

Image Courtesy Of: Terren Peterson, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Good Spade Makes Transplanting a Breeze

A good spade will makes dividing and transplanting any plant much easier. A good sharp spade allows you to cut around the plant with out disturbing the root system and gives the leverage needed to lift the clumps out of the ground.

Fiskars 9654 Transplanting Spade
A good spade is one of the very few tools required to care for your Hostas. This spade is very comfortable and easy to use, the perfect tool for dividing and transplanting.
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When Is The Best Time To Divide Your Hostas For Transplanting

Hostas can be divided for transplanting in the spring or in the late summer. Dividing plants in the springtime is easiest for the gardener, transplanting them in the late summer is easiest on the plants.

Dividing and Transplanting in the Spring:

• Only divide fast growing Hosta varieties in the spring. Slower growing varieties like sieboldianas, or the tokudamas should be divided in the summer.
• Do not over divide the clumps
• Water in new divisions well and continue to water regularly until they are well established. Hostas do not begin growing new roots, until they set their foliage in the spring. The compromised root system of newly divided plants, may not be able to draw enough water and nutrients to support this new growth.

If you've kept your plants watered, but you still notice some the leaves on your transplants turning yellow, or or even brown don't panic. The damage is not likely to be permanent, but will slow this seasons growth.

Dividing and Transplanting in the Summer:

• Allow at least 1 month between transplanting and the first frost
• As always keep newly divided plants well watered.
• Cutting back some of the larger leaves on divisions will help to reduce stress caused by water loss.

Image Courtesy Of: KENPEI , CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Hosta 'Adrian's Glory'
Adrian's Glory does best in full shade, is hardy to zone 4, and is slug resistant. What's not to love? Shipped Bare Root
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