In this video I am going to show you how to divide hoastas.
Early spring is a good time to propagate by division, however, late fall will work as well. Propagation by division should be done when the parent plant is either dormant, or about to break dormancy in the spring.
The dormancy season begins in the fall after the first good hard freeze, not necessarily a frost. A frost is usually not severe enough to trigger dormancy. It usually takes a good hard freeze when the temperature drops down below 32 degrees F. for a period of a few hours. It’s pretty easy to determine when a good hard freeze has taken place because any leaves remaining on the trees will be crinkled and severely damaged. Many will fall to the ground the next day.
And of course once dormancy begins the plants remain dormant until spring arrives and the temperatures begin to increase. As the temperature increases the plants become active. Root activity can occur throughout the winter, anytime the soil temperature rises above 45 degrees F. The plants are not officially out of dormancy until leaves begin to appear.
Most people don’t realize that nurserymen can only dig deciduous plants while they are dormant. Once a deciduous plant develops leaves in the spring, it can not safely be transplanted until late fall when it is dormant again. Digging a deciduous plant once it leafs out will immediately put the plant into shock, and likely kill it.
Evergreens are a little different. They can not be safely transplanted once new growth is established in the spring, but once that new growth hardens off later in the summer, evergreens can be transplanted. Of course, transplanting during dormancy is usually the safest bet.
Back to propagating by division. To divide a plant all you do is dig up the parent plant. The entire plant will come out of the ground in one large clump. Place this clump on a hard surface and just cut it into several pieces using a large knife or even a spade. Each division should have at least two or three sprouts or eyes. This is much easier to determine in early spring once the eyes have begun to develop, but the leaves have not yet developed.
Once you have made these divisions, just replant each division back into your garden. Keep them watered, but not soaked.
Division is a very simple form of propagation, but it is only effective with a limited number of plants. Division will not work on what would be considered the higher forms of landscape plants. If a plant has a single stem emerging from the ground, then it must be propagated by another means.
This a great video and I learned a lot from it. I was a little confused by one thing however. The hostas you are dividing don’t appear to be in a dormant stage yet in the text of the article accompanying the video it say they should be. Can you clarify this for me?
Paul,
They don’t have to be. Me? I prefer to divide them when dormant, but they can be divided in the late summer and fall. Some even say late spring. The time of year that you should not divide them is early spring once they start flushing out with new growth. Get to them just prior to that, just as the eyes emerge but are not yet open.
Mike,
Thanks for your ideas and videos. Sorry I was unable to join your inner circle due to low funds. I am going to attempt to sell rooted cuttings of Japanese Kerria, American chaste tree, Varigated hosta, green hosta, and 2 varieties of rose of sharon for a start. . I have divided large hostas into 12-15 rhizomes and had them return in Spring doing well.. Thanks Again, Dave
Dave,
I hope you at least took the trial so you know what the members area is all about, how helpful the members area, and the amount of information exchanged daily.
I had same problem with my hostas and this video is very helpful.
Hi Mike, just getting ready to divide my hosta collection here in Australia.. glad to stop by and watch your video on dividing them before I start. interesting comment about the left over roots growing new plants as well.AND com’on Aussies, join this backyard growing group so the ones who have have more people to trade with.!
Lois,
I agree with you! Over the years I’ve had a few growers in Australia that were doing well. But I haven’t heard from them in a while. Right now you’re the only one that I hear from, but I am extremely proud of you, you are doing a great job and I wish you nothing but continued success.
Hi Mike, just getting ready to divide my hosta collection here in Australia.. glad to stop by and watch your video on dividing them before I start. interesting comment about the left over roots growing new plants as well.AND com’on Aussies, join this backyard growing group so the ones who have have more people to trade with.!
Mike , I did exactly what you did but I also planted the leftover roots in a big hole in the yard under a lilac tree , And now I have beautiful plants there also !
Mike thanks so much for your videos. They are great. They have helped me a lot.You see it is easier for me to watch a video then it is for me to read. The reason this means so much to me is that I am legally blind. I am completely blind in my right eye and only have about 10% of my vision in my left eye. I can read with the help of special software but videos are a bit easier for me.I have recently bought 160 acres in Colorado. We built a house and now I am looking to find something I can do from home. I have always wanted to start a nursery but did not know how to go about doing it. Now I have the room and the time I think I am going to purchase you system. I look forward to getting it and learning from a great person like you.
Thanks Mike for all you do to educate people like me – a novice! I appreciate you more than you can imagine. Take good care of yourself – we need you!
greeting mike ….. i learned this past spring dividing hosta in the dirt was almost like the container dividing on your video.. my client has many varieties of hostas. she has many LARGE size gardens on her land that stay green all year round!! she groups her hostas 6 or more in a circle and when they are in bloom they are a wonderful sight.. she has had them many years and she keeps them well groomed and such a beautiful sight for the gardening tours that she use to have. she also taught me that deer come from from the park/nature reserve next to her land and eat her hostas. she plants MORE than her gardens contain outside of her land/fence so the deer can eat freely………living at a dead end street- she has requested her husband go do what little boys do so swell – go p p along the fence to keep the deer from crossing over!! so far it has worked! they stay in the reserve and not in her gardens!!! but then again this is the first year she has made him do that LOL…………
thank you for your videos!!!!
Thanks Mike, never knew they could take such rough handling!!
I’m glad some of the posters here have luck growing hostas in the sun. Most of mine are shaded, but I was running out of room ,so decided to try a sunny area. They looked sick! The colors were’nt as bright and they were limp-and, yes, I watered and fed. So, I dug them up and back to the shade they went.
As for deer, anyone that says-Ahhhhhhh, they’re so cute, has’nt had their flowers/vegetables/shrubs/fill in the blank,destroyed from these pests.
The ONLY thing that works is a little buckshot or a bow/arrow.
Sorry if I offend anybody, that’s how I feel.
Mike-
I really enjoy seeing the short but informative and helpful videos on plant division (daylillies, hosta) but would ask if you could please always include the written information for those of us whose memory has faded a bit over the years; it is just helpful to have this good information in print to refer back to until it is learned, as you did with the recent October 2011 video/write-up on daylilly division. Thanks for all your help!
Hi Mike, love your videos and information. I too love to get my hands in the dirt!!! Question, I have a large variety of hostas which I have in a 8 x 25 foot “corral” protecting them from the deer. What do you use to deter deer from the rest of your garden? I have tried several awful smelling sprays but nothing seems to keep the critters away. Any advice? Thanks Mike…….Anthony
Mike,
I read all your E-mails and very much enjoy your style as well as the great info…You are a blessing to us all.
Thanks much
Most of my trees I have my hosta around are silver maples. I try to water my hosta well as I know the maples have roots that are close to the surface and take lots of the moisture. I also mix in a few other shade loving plants. I was told that if I used a spade to cut around the hosta each year this would help with this problem under maple trees. Is this a true statement?
Enjoy all your information you give us.
Mike,
Thanks for this – I divided my hostas a few weeks ago but it was very hard because they were planted in a bed with stone mulch which was all tangled up in the roots, and they were 5-6 year old plants and really tough! After sweating and sawing with a breadknife and chopping with a spade I finally got the brute hacked into pieces but I have planted them in a lovely raised bed with improved soil and will not leave it so long the next time! same story with the Zebra grass…Does your backyard growing system work in Ireland? Presumably the Wholesale directory is for the US? I’m sure a lot of the principles would still apply. I am currently heading for a career change from full time vet to full time mum and have been considering your system for a while.
Thanks
As always I really enjoy your tips. I just transplanted some hostas and was really careful with them. I see I don’t have to be. Thanks again. Wish I could have a backyard growing system but I’m in northern wis. and there’s not enough warm weather.
Well, do I feel silly….I was asking my question on the wrong web site re: the transplant of wiegela….however, after this terrible summer, (drought in OK) I had to take up all of my hostas and the soil had caked on the roots not allowing them to take in water….they kept wilting after watering. I have most of the hostas I kept in the ground and with your video re: dividing, I already have enough hostas for a small business…will take to the farmers market this summer.
thanks again,
Judy
I have 6 large hosta plants growing behind my house. They are beautiful. I need to divide them, but I’m not sure how. Could you let me know? I saw your video, but it was about hosta plants in containers, not in a garden.
I’d appreciate your help.
MIKE NOT LONG AGO YOU DEMONSTRATED HARDWOOD CUTTINGS FROM BLOOMING BUSHS PUT THEM IN A BUCKET COVER THEM AND LET THEM ROOT..IF THIS IS CORRECT I,M THINKING NOW WOULD BE THE TIME OR DO WE WAIT FOR WINTER?SOME OF YOUR TIPS INREGARDS TO THIS METHOD I CANNOT RECALL PLEASE GIVE US A REDO IF POSSIBLE THANKS YOUR VERY HELPFUL .CONNIE
mike,
i enjoyed your video on dividing hostas.
my problem is deer. my hosta are called “deer food.”
any ideas for keeping deep from eating them?
Mike,
I too, love plants. My neighbors are not so crazy about it because too me, the only difference between a flower and a weed is an opinion. I am going to buy your back yard business book. Social Security does not pay the bills. I recently (10-6-11) took cuttings from weigela and a non-flowering mimosa like tree. They all look healthy in my cake pan greenhouse with grow light. When will I know they are ready for planting in a pot?….today is 10-29-11. They are planted in pete pots so I can put them directly into potting soil.
thanks
Judy
Hi mike,
Thank you for your information about dividing plants.
Growing plants is very good. Watching your video bring hope, joy, happiness and keep you care moor.
Faye
Mike,
Good video. I have been dividing hostas for years, and have so many that it is time to separate and sell alot next spring. I usually divide my hostas in 6 parts as they are huge. Looking at how small you cut those hostas , I guess I can cut more pieces from the plants I have. Some are like 36′ wide or bigger. the ones like you show (green and white) don`t get as big as the plain light green ones. I have both and a dark green one also, which grows super large, and huge leaves.
But believe me you do a wonderful job and even I, as a seasoned gardener, I am learning alot on your BYG. Thanks for the videos also.
Marie From Ohio
HI MIKE, I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED ALL YOUR INFO ON ALL PLANTS. I HAVE A BED OF HOSTAS THAT I REALLY NEED TO DIVIDE AS THEY HAVE GROWN SO BIG. I HAVE LOOKED EVERY WHERE FOR INFOR ON HHOW TO BUT REALLEY NP HELP TILL NOW AND THEN HERE YOU COME WITH THE THE BEST INFO OF ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH…. MARY LOU HEISLER
Mike,
I really like the help you gave on dividing hosta. I’m always afraid I’ll kill the plant if I cut into it.
Do you have any suggestions on how to divide yucca plants?
Thanks for the tips for hosta division, Mike. Very helpful!
Just a comment love your website .I dont know if you did a segment on propograted japanese maples and how to prune them,but i’ve had one for about 5 years and I was wondering how to get it go grow fuller?
Deviding Hosta was very helpful. I’m getting braver about whacking up the plant as you show in your video. I was always fearful about cutting the roots but now understand why. You say Pinging is not allowed at this time. What is Pinging?
Hi Mike. Love all your information. We have move to Mercer and also have many elderberry plants. I would like any information that you may have on them,like can I cut them back or will this hurt the plants? Thanks for your help. Mary
Hi Mike,
I love your emails. I would love to have a little backyard business someday.
Just a dream at this stage.
Happy Holidays and please keep the emails coming. I am going to purchase your Back Yard Growing System as a xmas gift to myself! Just thought to so that.
Thanks again,
Beth
Thanks Mike, learned a lot from you today, are you going to have anything on transplanting Iris?
THANKS so much, Mike…I read all your posts and share them with my friends.I have learned a lot, and as the poster said, am leaving my fear behind , my wimpy attitude after seeing how you handle these babies, also the day lilies! My question was answered about when to divide, altho I have done it different times in the year. So I suppose moving ones that did not do well in their location is ok now, also.
I just had surgery so I will have to find a willing kindred spirit to move divide n conquer. My hostas give me the most pleasure, altho alyssum,that growing fiend, is a close second!Just fills in everywhere even when nothing else looks great!THANKS AGAIN for all the encoragement and info.
Thanks for the good ideas!! Going to try that.
Keep sending your tips.
Thanks for the information, Mike. And, thanks for reassuring us that the plants would be okay – because the first time you cut one apart and then cut off the leaves, I was surprised! My first thought was “how can it live??” But, you know what you are doing – so now I just have to toughen up and get out there and divide my hostas.:)
Dear Mike,
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us gardeners.
I have tried to dig up hostas in the past. The roots are so intertwined that it feels like I am digging up concrete chunks. Any ideas?
Mike,
You are bringing so much encouragement and joy to so many people.
Thanks for raising the amount of happiness and self-fulfillment in the world.
Dang Mister! A little rough on your plants! hahaha
Good info, will be a little less wimpy when it comes to dividing my plants. Does it matter what time of year to transplant? Fall? Spring?
Mike,
My Hosta is starting to die down for the year. Is now a good time to go ahead and divide my hosta or do I need to wait until Spring?
I Love your website.
Denise
Hi Mike,
I enjoy receiving your emails and have learned so much about plants. I have a question about when to divide the hosta. I live in NJ so the hostas are getting ready to go dormant. Should they be divided in the Fall or Spring? I have had great success in dividing them in the Spring.
Thanks for all your helpful tips about gardening.
Nancy
Nancy, you can do them in fall or the spring. Ideally I like to do them when they are dormant, but that’s not always necessary. If you are going to do them in the spring do them early before they produce leaves. After that you have to wait for that surge of spring growth stops, then they can be divided again, but it is really hard on them at that point.
Mike;
I totally enjoyed your video on dividing hostas. My query is you divided potted hostas, what about ones in the ground? Also, we had our first killer frost here in the Northeast last night. Is it too late to dig and divide?
John, the ones in the ground you’ll do the same way. Just dig them up and cut them apart as I did in the video. Doing them after that killing frost is really a good time, just don’t leave them out of the ground where the roots will be exposed to freezing air. They can freeze in the ground, but the roots cannot freeze when out of the ground. So do them on a day that is above freezing.
Thank You Mike, your video on hostas was very helpful.
I purchased your ‘How to raise and sell plants’ . I have grew a lot of hostas and other plants since getting your valuable how to information. I recently built a 15′ x 50′ greenhouse. My greenhouse has fans, water and heat now. And I’ve planted tomatoe plants in the greenhouse and so far they are doing great! I also have a big pot each of ivy, begonias and aloe vera.
Any ideas on the greenhouse Mike as what plants you would grow to sell?
Wayne, congratulations on all you’ve done since getting my system. A greenhouse is nice and they can be fun and relaxing, and profitable. But only you can decide what direction you want to take with that greenhouse. You have to figure out what you want to do, and whether or not that particular item will return the profit you desire. A lot of our members have greenhouses. Some grow vegetables, annual flowers, hanging baskets, others propagate nursery stock. Communicating with them would help you a lot.
Mike, I would like to know if you can plant the roots that you cut off the plants when you divide them -( daylilies,hostas,ornamental grasses,etc.)? Would the cut off roots prduce a plant? I really enjoy the information you give. Thanks, Karen
Karen, I can’t honestly answer that, and it would depend on the plant. Some plants like Yucca, for sure can be grown from roots. We are actually doing a little experiment with what we divided from our daylilly divisions. Stay tuned.
Mike, Do you water your beds planting beds in the Winter?
Kim, no I don’t. I let Mother Nature take care of that. We pulled out well pump and drained all the irrigation lines last week.
Mike, this information on dividing day lililes and hosta was very informative. If you are dividing them from the ground and not a pot do you do it the same way?
thanks
Mike:
I have tried all day to watch your video on separating daylilies and also the one on separating hosta. I have not been able to watch it through as the video keeps stalling. I know it is not my computer as it is new. Can you help?
Deanie
Hi Deanie, Weather can be a factor, or your server may have high volume, or the site might have a high volume, since this is a good time to separate bedding plants. Also, you might try dumping ALL you Cache or temp files. Sometimes when my practically new laptop lags and seizes dumping ALL my temp files, including my saved stuff like information saved to make it easier to log in later, fixes it. If that doesn’t fix your problem, run your virus scan, it might be a sneaky program trying to invade your system. Good Luck!!
Hi Mike,been getting your emails for more than 2 years now and i want to thank you for all your information, I bought 3 litle red maples over 2 years ago , 2 are still growing thank you what do you feed them? and can I plant them in the ground? I just trim them but it gets hot here in southern california not much shade around my house frnt is to the west
Mike, as you can tell with my first reply that my typing is lacking ha! I was asking about moving a porcipine grass, whats the best time to move it? Thanks Brenda Weatherly
Mike, when can I move mt porcine grass? It is yo large for it’s location. Thanks Brenda Weatherly
thanks for all the information on planting and dividing plants-happy holidays ahead
Hi Mike, I love your website and emails which I receive. I have a Hosta question. I learned most of my growing techniques and tips from my mom. She always said Hosta only grows in shady areas, but I noticed you mentioned planting yours in the field. Will they grow in full sun, or do they actually need shady areas to thrive. my yard is mostly sun, with only younger trees for shade, but I love Hosta and would love to grow some if I can grow them in full sunny areas.
Danelle- I love Hosta’s, they are my favorite plant indoor and out side.
My yard has a lot of shady areas due to 100 year old walnut and oak trees. I plant lighter variegated hoftas around the trees in the shade and darker ones around the house in full sun for a contrasting look. The ones in full sun need more water and grow larger 2 feet tall.
Thanks, Kevin, I will use this next spring and give Hosta another whirl 🙂
Yes they will grow in the sun I have all of mine in the sun and they do very well
I grow variegated hosta in full sun , they are huge and beautiful and produce flower stems up to 4 feet in height. Gorgeous!