The garden yucca or palm lily, which is closely related to the yucca palm (more correctly: Yucca elephantipes), which is cultivated as a houseplant, can be found in many gardens. The plant is particularly impressive because of its inflorescences, which are up to three meters high and have flowers reminiscent of lily of the valley arranged close together. However, such a yucca can also grow very large, although fortunately it can be both reduced in size and propagated by division.
How to properly divide a yucca plant?
To divide a yucca successfully, carefully dig up the plant, remove any diseased or damaged roots, and divide in strong, multi-shoot areas. Plant the individual parts separately and ensure good drainage and sufficient water.
Dig up yucca at its location
To divide the plant, you basically have two options: First, you can dig up the whole yucca, then divide it into the desired number of individual plants and then put them back in the ground. This method makes sense if you are moving the yucca anyway, want to divide the whole plant or first see where it is best to divide. On the other hand, the plants also produce offshoots on their own, which you simply separate from the mother plant with a spade, dig up and then replant separately. The mother plant itself remains in the ground.
Share Yucca successfully
When completely dividing the garden yucca, it is best to proceed as described:
- Prick the ground around the yucca with a digging fork.
- Try to loosen the soil
- and carefully lift the yucca out of its planting lock.
- If necessary, you will of course also have to cut through roots.
- However, it is better to damage as few roots as possible.
- Remove the adhered soil so that you can check the roots.
- Do these look he althy? Diseased and severely damaged roots are removed.
- Now look at the best places to divide the yucca.
- The root system should be strong and have several shoots.
- Now divide the yucca in the best places with a spade (€29.00 on Amazon).
- You can also use a sharp knife or secateurs.
- Once the division has taken place, plant the individual pieces separately in the ground.
- Ensure good drainage beforehand (soil loosening and improvement)
- and then water the newly planted yuccas well.
The best time for this measure is spring, as the yucca can root better throughout the growing season and is therefore robust enough for cooler temperatures in time before winter.
Tip
If the transplanted yucca initially leaves its leaves hanging, this is normal. Watch the plant: If the leaves stand up again after a few days, it has grown.
