Horticultural aide memoire No. 7: Divide herbaceous perennials

Things are moving on rapidly in the growth department now, but it’s by no means too late to make significant improvements in the border before the garden routine switches to maintenance. Certain herbaceous perennials respond well to being divided just now as the young shoots are beginning to rise from the soil. The hardy cranesbills, Geranium species of every kind, are a good example. With a knife, remove little groups of shoots from the edge of the clump, cutting cleanly through to include the roots. Spirit these clumpettes away to fresh ground and they will flourish without further attention.