STEP BY STEP Split herbaceous perennials

Rejuvenate herbaceous plants, such as hostas, by lifting them out of the border and dividing them. Replant in the same spot or move them into another part of the garden. The outer growth on the clump is the youngest, so keep those pieces, discarding the older, less productive pieces from the middle.

Before replanting, make sure the area is thoroughly weeded and add bone-meal fertiliser to encourage root growth. The weather should still be mild enough for the newly planted divisions to take root, but if the ground is really cold wait until spring before dividing.

1 CUT down through the soil in a circle around the clump with a spade and lift the plant out onto the border, keeping the rootball intact.

2 EXAMINE the clump to judge where to divide it so there are one or two strong shoots on each piece, then cut through the fleshy roots using the spade.

3 ADD some compost to the soil before replanting the strongest divisions, then back-fill. Tread the ground firmly around the divisions to make sure that they don’t lift in the frost.

4 SOAK the new divisions immediately to help them recover and allow some root establishment before the soil becomes too cold. Mulch with a thick layer of compost.