HORTICULTURE

Dividing perennials A common spring maintenance chore in a perennial garden is that of dividing. There is no set rule as to when to divide perennials. Some may need division every three to five years, some eight to 10 years and some would rather you not bother them at all. Perennials will send signals to let you know that they would like to be divided. The signals to watch out for include: flowering is reduced with the flowers getting smaller; the growth in the center of the plant dies out, leaving a hole with all the growth around the edges; plant loses vigor; plant starts to flop or open up, needing staking; or it just may have outgrown its bounds. These are the signs to look for and not a date on the calendar. Divide the perennial when it is not in bloom, so it can focus its energy on root and leaf growth. Spring and fall are the recommended times, as those are the seasons when plants tend to establish new roots. The general rule of thumb is to divide spring blooming perennials in fall and summer/fall blooming perennials in spring. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. Some of the fleshy rooted perennials such as poppy, peony and iris are best divided in the late summer to very early fall. The process starts by digging around the plant and then lifting the entire clump out of the ground. Then, using a spade or sharp knife, start to cut the clump up so that each clump is the size of a quart or gallon sized perennial. Discard the old, dead center and trim off any damaged roots. The divisions should be kept moist and shaded while you prepare the new planting site. After replanting, water well and protect the divisions from drying out. For more information, please contact me at the Woodford County Cooperative Extension Service at 873-4601. 1st annual Master Gardener plant sale The Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners are having their inaugural annual plant sale on Saturday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Courthouse Square in downtown Versailles. You don’t want to miss it! There will be several varieties of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes to choose from, peppers, herbs, annuals, perennials, yard art and more. For more information, contact the Woodford County Extension Office at 873-4601.