From our perspective, the ideal time for division is not dictated by your calendar, but by the quiet, internal rhythm of our growth cycle. We prefer to be disturbed when our energy is focused below the soil, not on producing our beautiful foliage and flowers. The perfect window is in the early spring, just as our new, pointed shoots (often called "eyes") begin to peek an inch or two above the soil. At this moment, our stored energy in the rhizomes (our underground stems) is immense, ready to fuel a burst of growth. This allows us to recover from the division shock quickly and establish ourselves in a new location with minimal stress. Alternatively, you can divide us in the early autumn, after the summer heat has broken but we still have several weeks of warm soil to re-establish our roots before your winter's freeze arrives.
Please be gentle. Using a garden fork, carefully dig in a wide circle around our entire clump, loosening the soil. Avoid slicing through our central crown. Lift us out of the ground, and you will see the true nature of our being: a dense mass of roots and rhizomes with multiple growing points (those "eyes"). Gently shake or wash off the excess soil so you can see our structure clearly. This is a moment of assessment. Look for natural divisions or areas where the clump seems less congested. A healthy, mature clump of ours is ready for this process every four to six years.
Your goal is to create new, self-sufficient plants, each with at least two to three eyes and a good portion of our roots attached. For younger, looser clumps, you can often tease us apart with your hands, gently pulling sections away from the main plant. For older, tougher clumps, you may need to use two garden forks inserted back-to-back into the center and then levered apart. In the most stubborn cases, a sharp, clean knife can be used to slice through the tough crown. Remember, each cut is a wound, so make them clean and deliberate. We will heal, but we appreciate care and precision.
Once divided, our new sections are eager to get back into the earth. Prepare our new homes by digging holes that are wide and deep enough to accommodate our root systems without crowding or bending them. The crown of the plant (where the eyes meet the roots) should be level with the soil surface. Place us in the hole, spread our roots outward, and backfill with soil, firming it gently around us to eliminate air pockets. Then, provide us with a deep, generous drink of water. This initial watering is crucial for settling the soil around our roots and kickstarting our establishment process. With this care, we will reward you with renewed vigor and expansive growth for seasons to come.
