If I am going to split hostas is there a time that is better to do this and how do you split them?
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Answers:
Hostas can be divided at any time but it's best in the spring, before the leaves get big.
Dig your hosta out of the ground. This can be a big job if your hosta is old. Call a friend and offer to share some of your new plants if she'll help.
I take two garden forks, back to back, and stab them into the center of the hosta. Then pry the forks apart and you have two hosta.
If you want to divide farther , just repeat the process. Eventually you'll be able to use a smaller fork to get them apart. As long as it has roots, the plant or piece of plant will grow.
I replant as soon as possible. It's best to have new holes already dug and ready for the hosts to be set right in. I add dehydrated cow manure to the bottom of the hole and it really gives the plant a good start. Water in well to eliminate any air pockets and until the plants are well established.
Good luck.
if you are in the uk you have just missed the best times really because it's best to do it before there is too much new growth as it's hard to split them without damaging the leaves, however they will recover fast!
if in pots, tip out adn gently bash around the edges to loosen the soil, then split using a trowel to help.
if in the ground use a trowel or small spade to chop out the sections to be split, then remove and fill in with fresh soil..
the root structure is extensive and pretty tough and hostas will be greatly reinvigorated once split and given more space!
You can split them almost anytime as long as you give them plenty of water. I have done it as late as July. I dug them up and used a spade shovel to split the plant. I also have used a sharp knife to cut smaller plants off of the big one. Some of them can be pretty tough depending on how large they are.Make sure you get plenty of good roots with your transplant.
Anytime, water very well they should do fine, maybe not look as good this year, but next year.
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