If you have found a good variety of hosta, you do not necessarily have to buy more specimens in order to propagate it. If it is strong enough (usually lasts 3 years), it can be divided boldly. How does sharing work?
How do you properly divide a hosta?
To divide a hosta, dig up the plant in spring or autumn with a digging fork, free it of soil, cut off rotten roots and divide the root ball with a knife or spade. Each section should have a soil stem and be 50 cm away from other plants.
For multiplying and rejuvenating
Basically, this measure makes sense if the hosta has grown too large and perhaps already crowds out other perennials in the neighborhood. Even if the hosta has been in its location for 4 to 5 years, division is recommended to rejuvenate it.
The best time: spring or autumn
Hocas are divided either in fall or spring. If necessary, you can also try dividing them in the summer. Hostas are generally robust and if they are watered well they can tolerate division even in summer.
However, autumn or spring is preferable. If you want to divide the hosta in the fall, do so in September. Then it still has enough time to root until winter. In spring you have the advantage of seeing the young shoots already emerging from the ground.
Share the hosta step by step
Dividing the hosta usually works without much effort and, unlike sowing, ensures that the offspring have the same characteristics as the mother plant. This is how it works:
- excavate with digging fork
- remove coarse soil (e.g. by shaking)
- cut off old, rotten roots
- Divide the root ball with a knife or a spade (€29.00 on Amazon)
- Attention: Each section should have something from the earth stem
Which location is suitable?
Now the new specimens are going into the ground. You can also take this opportunity to move the mother plant to another location:
- partially shady to shady location
- ideally protected place
- z. E.g. roadsides, beds, tree edges
- Minimum distance to other plants: 50 cm
- Loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost
Tip
Remember to water your newly propagated hosta regularly in the first few weeks after dividing and planting if there is no rain! This is essential for growth.
