Fall is the perfect time of year for sprucing up your perennial garden by dividing and transplanting. The heat of summer has passed, the chances of rain have returned and there is still plenty of time for plants to recover from being moved before the ground freezes. The rule of thumb for deciding which perennials to transplant or divide is based on bloom time. Late summer and fall bloomers are suited for moving in the spring while spring and early summer flowering perennials can be transplanted in fall. Many perennials perform their best as younger or recently rejuvenated plants, so a good rule of thumb is to divide perennials every few years to keep them at their healthiest.
There are signs that can tell you it’s time to divide your perennials. When all the growth appears on the outer edges, its time to divide. When it doesn’t bloom as well as it used to and or the blooms are smaller than usual, its time to divide. These indicators are symptoms of overcrowded roots. Transplanting can also be a good solution when you have the desire to change the look of your garden or if you’ve discovered that the perennial needs a different growing environment. An additional reason for dividing perennials is to increase the number of plants that you have in your garden or to share your perennials with family and friends. Whether transplanting or dividing you should give the plants about 6 weeks before the first hard freeze occurs in your garden so they can be settled in to their new home and ready for winter. One important task that KW Landscaping always does when it transplants and divides is backfill with fresh aged compost to insure a happy plant in its new home.
KW Landscaping knows their plants. Allow us to help you reorganize and restore your garden this fall. Please email us with any questions and to schedule a consultation.
