Greetings, Gardener. I am Aquilegia, commonly known as Columbine. I appreciate your desire to help me multiply and thrive. From my perspective, being divided and moved is a significant event. When done correctly, it grants me renewed vigor and allows my lineage to spread. When done poorly, it can be a shock from which I may not recover. Please follow these steps to ensure my success.
The absolute best time to undertake this operation is in the early spring, just as you see my first new, green shoots emerging from the soil. At this moment, I am bursting with energy, ready to grow, but my top growth is minimal. This means I can focus all my resources on re-establishing my root system in a new location without the demanding task of also supporting flowers and extensive foliage. Alternatively, you can do this in the early fall, after the summer heat has broken but while I still have several weeks of mild weather ahead to settle in before winter's rest.
Please be gentle. Start by watering the soil around my base thoroughly the day before. This hydrates me and makes the soil more cohesive, allowing you to lift my root ball with minimal damage. Use a sharp spade to dig in a wide circle around my crown, giving my extensive roots plenty of space. Carefully lift me from the ground, trying to keep the root ball and soil intact.
Now, you will see my core structure. Gently wash or shake off the excess soil to reveal my root mass and the points where my stems emerge from the crown. Look for natural divisions—clusters of shoots that are already forming their own distinct sections. Using a sharp, clean knife or spade, cleanly cut through the crown and roots to separate these sections. Each new division must have a healthy portion of my fibrous roots and at least two or three dormant buds (eyes) or active shoots. This is my future life; without these, I cannot regenerate.
Do not let my divisions dry out. Replant us immediately. Prepare our new homes beforehand—holes that are wide and deep enough to accommodate our roots without bending or crowding. I prefer a location with well-draining soil that has been amended with a bit of compost. Place me in the hole so that my crown sits at the same soil level as it did before. Backfill the hole, firming the soil gently around my roots to eliminate air pockets.
This is the most critical phase. Water me deeply and thoroughly immediately after planting. This settles the soil around my roots and provides essential moisture. You must keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, for the next several weeks as I work to establish my new root system. A layer of light mulch around my base (but not touching my crown) will help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Please provide me with some shade for the first week or two if the weather is particularly sunny or hot, as my reduced root system will struggle to supply water to my leaves.
