Divide and Conquer- Fill the Empty spaces in your Garden!

Hardy Geranium

If you were to visit my yard, you would find my garden’s are filled with many of the same loyal plants. When I refer to loyal, I’m talking about plants that can withstand harsh winds, winters, lack of watering, a cat and dogs that like to dig, and other forces of nature. Basically, once I find plants that live well in m my soil, and conditions - well, I just want more of the same.



It is for that very reason that I don’t often have a empty place in my garden. You see one of my greatest thrills in gardening comes from realizing just how many plants I can divide into even more!

There are a few “rules” for division. Don’t move a plant when its flowering. Or about to flower. And spring and fall is the best time to conquer this task. Though I have been known to move a plant in the heat of summer if I get the urge.

Sure there are a few plants that simply do not like to touched. Plants are kind of like people in this respect. Some are easy going and can be moved from place to place. Then there are a few have temperamental moods. For these, yes, leave them where you plant them - if possible. I mean really, why deal with the drama? And of course, there are the stubborn ones, like large grasses, that take a bit of elbow grease to get them where they need to go.

Here are a few plants to move/separate /divide easily include:

• Hosta
• Daylily
• Daisy
• Black Eyed Susan
• Sedum
• Phlox
• Grasses
• Veronica
• Iris
• Oriental Lilies
• Lamb’s ear
• Hardy Geranium
• And many more! 

Peonies

Clematis

Plants that prefer not to be moved (see notations):

• Peonies  (If you do move, be sure to bury the rizomes just below the surface. Then expect to wait a couple of years for blooms.)
• Lavender (Small plants that have sprouted from the edges of this plant, can be dug and replanted.)
• Hydrangea
• Roses
• Clematis (Due to a remodel project, I had to move two this year- so far so good.)

The premise for dividing or separting a plant is basically the same. Dig a large area around the plant and lift it carefully out of the ground. Then begin making more!

Try these simple steps for division:

• For plants with tubers like daylilies, shake the dirt off the tubers and gently pull them apart. It is not unusual to have more than 10 to 15 plants from a large clump. 
• For hostas, use the same method, except you will find think roots instead of tubers. 
• For Iris and Peonies, you will find risomes, which are a bit tougher to break apart.
• For grasses, dig the entire clump out and use a sharp axe or shovel to cut the clump in to pieces. 
• For Veronica, garden plox, daily, Lamb’s ear, Black eyed susan’s dig up small plants from the edges and replant. 

Now find a empty place in your garden with the same type of conditions, sun, shade, etc…that the parent plant had. Dig a small hole, put in your new plants- and water daily for a couple of weeks!

I know this seems pretty simple. And it really is. Will you loose some plants? Sure. But gardening is filled with trial and error.

And if you have some extra plants when your through, just share the extras with your friends! And spread the love of gardening!

Don't Overlook Foliage! It's a Show All it's Own!

You hear it a hundred times throughout the season,  I just want color! And color is a wonderful thing! The bright reds, pinks and yellows... and ohh, let's not forget the whites, purples and oranges!

But what many people forget is that most perennials don't flower consistently all season. Many just can't do without it, color that is, so as soon as annuals can be planted-  they are out and planting. But my advice is, don't over look the color, textures, and lines of the various type of foliage that is around your yard and garden all season long! Instead embrace it as the many colors and contrast that it provides.

In fact the dictionary gives this definition of Foliage: a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation. Yes, I would agree! As one who also love architecture, foliage offers it's own architecture to the landscape.

One prime example, is the hosta. It's blooms are short in contrast to the various shades and types of leafs they offer. From blue-greens, lime, variegated with white and dark green leaves- the foliage show never  stops.
I love looking out, especially in late April and May and seeing the wind move my Dappled Willow Bushes. Their foliage changes from green to variegated with pinks and whites as the seasons change.

Delphinium, center 

Other favorites include:

• The Delphinium. (intricate)
• Lambs Ears (so soft and fuzzy)
• Lamium
• Cora Bells (varieties include purples and greens/pinks)
• Lavender  (and it smells great even without blooms!)
• Weeping Willow Tree (amazing to see move)
• Evergreens (a staple we can count on year-round for color!)
• Ninebark Bush (Dark burgandy leaves)

Lamium

Georgia Peach Cora Bells

Japanese Blood grass mass planting

And then there are the grasses:
(They sway and move for us all summer, fall and even during the winter season!)

• Pampus 
• Karl Forester 
• Japanese Blood 
• And so many more!  

So while your waiting for your favorite flower to bloom why not take a closer look at it's foliage? It has way more to offer than you realize. Don't miss it!