Divide perennials

Randwater
7/10/06
10:58 AM
Page 22
Grow flowers to sell
Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment
RAND WATER
Divide perennials
By dividing up your older perennials into more new plants you
will increase the number of plants you have
are a group of flowering
Panderennials
plants, such as agapanthus, arums
inca lilies, which can be sold either
as cut flowers or as plants. An advantage
of perennials is that they are easy to
propagate – make more plants – which
will allow you to keep some ‘mother’
plants and sell the extra.
Perennial plants grow larger every
year, usually by spreading and making a
larger clump and larger root ball. The
method used for making more plants from
a single perennial plant is known as
division. A plant can be divided by
separating an established plant into two
or more pieces, which then form new
roots, stems and leaves. Division is one of
the easiest ways to propagate plants.
Mid to late March is a good time to
divide summer-flowering perennials
except in parts of the country which
experience very cold winters. Some of
these plants are agapanthus, arum,
bulbine, cannas, day lilies, dietes,
gazania, Michaelmas daisies, scabiosa,
Shasta daisies and tulbaghia.
Perennials can be divided about
every three years, when they have grown
into a large clump. If you are selling
plants, remember to keep some of your
new plants growing in your garden,
ready to divide again in three years’ time.
Plants new perennials every year so that
there will always be some that are ready
to be divided.
TOP: Arum.
ABOVE: Inca lily.
22 Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2006/7
Randwater
7/10/06
10:59 AM
Page 23
Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment
RAND WATER
Dividing agapanthus
Agapanthus bloom in November and
December. They look lovely when planted
in large groups, so gardeners and plant
nurseries are always ready to buy new
plants. They also make lovely cut flowers,
which is even more reason to grow more of
them in a sunny place in your garden.
To divide, cut back old flower stems
and lift plants from the soil with a
fork. Divide the root ball by
separating it into smaller sections
with a spade. Replant the divisions
into containers filled with soil and
plenty of compost – remember to
keep some for your garden. Cut
back the leaves to 10cm
above the base of the plant.
Agapanthus.
(Pic: Otto)
Dividing irises
Irises bloom in October. Divide bearded
irises every 3-4 years in March. They
need good drainage, so make sure the
soil in your garden or in containers drains
well – make holes in the bottom of the
containers and put some stones or a ball
of meshed plastic vegetable sacking at
the bottom. Plant
the irises with the
top of the rhizome
(root) out of the
soil. Cut back
the leaves of
new divisions
to 10cm above
the rhizome.
Iris.
(Pic: Otto)
Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2006/7 23
Randwater
7/10/06
2:07 PM
Page 24
Grow flowers to sell
Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment
RAND WATER
Dividing cannas
Cannas flower all summer
and are a good choice for
selling as plants. Cannas
increase rapidly and should
be divided every two years.
Lift clumps with a fork and
divide the rhizomes (roots) into 10cm divisions.
Replant into containers in soil mixed with plenty of
compost (see page 18). Cut off the old flower stems
and leaves at the base of the plant. The invasive
Canna indica should not be grown as this is a
Category 1 weed. Hybrid cultivars are available that
may be grown.
Canna.
(Pic: Otto)
Dividing day lilies
Day lilies flower in summer and are at their
best in November. Divide day lilies every 2-3
years. Lift clumps with a fork and wash off the
soil from the roots so that divisions can be
made more easily.
Split the plants into single divisions. Cut
back the leaves to
10cm above the
roots. Plant into
containers filled with
soil and plenty of
compost (see page
18). Avoid planting
day lilies too deeply
in the soil as this may
reduce flowering.
Manzi says, “Group plants with
similar water needs together in
your garden to conserve water.”
24 Supplement to SA Gardening Directory 2006/7
Day lily.
(Pic: Otto)
Randwater
7/10/06
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Conserving Water, Conserving the Enrironment
RAND WATER
How to divide perennials
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1 When the perennial has finished flowering,
water the area well. Use a garden fork to lift
the plant that is to be divided out of the
ground.
2 Shake off as much soil as possible.
3 Wash the plant and its roots in a bucket, or
hose the plant clean.
4 Shorten all tall stems of decidious
perennials above the ground to about 15cm
to minimise water loss, and to enable you to
see what you are doing. If the perennial is an
evergreen plant, leave all young healthy
foliage but remove all dead leaves.
5 Identify a piece of the plant with at least
one good 'eye' or growth bud. Gently pull off
this section of the plant.
6 If pulling does not remove a section, cut
through the plant with a sharp knife. Make as
many divisions of the plant as seems right
(usually 3-6).
7 A large, overgrown clump of perennials
can be divided more easily using two forks.
Insert the forks into centre of the plant, back
to back. Then force the roots apart by
pushing the handles of the forks towards
each other.
8 Immediately after dividing, plant the new
plants in a soil and compost mix in the
garden. If you wish to sell the plants, plant
them in plastic containers or plastic bags
that have some holes in the bottom for
drainage.
9 Water the newly divided plants thoroughly
and regularly. Those in containers or bags
will be ready for sale when new growth
appears.