How do you seperate a hosta plant? It's getting VERY huge! I am wanting to put part of it somewhere else...
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i have transplanted hostas before and yes, you do normally need to do it in the Spring. you don't have to dig the whole thing up if you just want to remove part of it: just use a thin bladed (sharp) spade and cut out the part you want to remove. hosta crowns are quite tough so you will need to use a lot of pressure from your foot on the spade. go down about 1 foot and slide your spade under the cut out part; it should lift away without too much tugging. fill in the whole left with soil and replant your new section in the desired location, having enriched the soil with compost beforehand. don't worry about damaging the plant either: hostas are tough, and when they get big they are almost indestructible!
It needs to be done in the spring. Here's some information from the Eastern Region International Plant Propagator's Society. I'm serious.
The best time to tackle this job is in the spring--you can easily see the new growth and you won't harm the foliage.
Dig out the entire clump by cutting down all the way around the outside of the plant.
Slide your spade underneath the clump and lift it out of the ground.
Wash the soil off the roots to expose the rhizomes so you can see where to divide the plant.
Using a sharp knife, cut through the clump, leaving at least three eyes (shoots) and strong roots in each division.
Replant a new division at the same depth in the original hole and pack the soil tightly around the plant.
You COULD wait until next spring, but fall is just as ideal time as spring. You could move them now, but with summer fastly approaching, they will struggle as they try to stay green and leafy on top, grow AND establish a new root system. If you choose to move them now or in the fall, do as stated above, make sure each section has plenty of roots and purchase a root stimulator to assist in the development of roots. Good Luck!
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