How to lift and divide a perennial

Established perennials can be dug up and divided in autumn or spring. In the south of the country, and on light, free-draining soils, it pays to do this in autumn so that the new plants can establish their roots and grow away vigorously the following spring. On heavy clay soils, and in the north of the country, spring planting is safer so that the plants do not have to spend a winter in cold, wet earth, which could lead to rotting. That said, spring planting is safe wherever you live, and provided the plants do not go short of water they will establish rapidly. This works best for plants with fibrous roots that are easy to dig up and divide, such as hardy geraniums, hemerocallis (daylily), astrantia and tradescantia.

Dig up an established clump

Use a spade (or a fork if your garden’s ground is especially hard) and dig around the clump, prising it from the ground when you have cut all around it.

Divide into sections

Chop the clump into sections with a spade (you can also prise the clump apart using two garden forks placed back to back and pushed together if you prefer – but this technique is very efficient at bruising your knuckles).

Chop up healthy growth

Discard the central section of the plant if it is old and tired, then chop up the healthy, vigorous parts of the clump into pieces as large as your fist, or larger if you have enough for your needs. You can do this job as soon as the weather is milder, in late February or March, provided that after planting you keep an eye on the plants and firm back any new, young divisions that are lifted clear of the ground by frost. Try to get this job done by early April, and your first summer will see a pretty decent show for your efforts.