Dividing Hostas

[NJCher]

I had this beautiful mass of hostas that needed to be divided. Not only did the plants need to have more root space, their unique and beautiful color would make for good accent plants in my container garden. I wanted to divide them, but I was wary of how difficult the job would be.

They were so close together that none of the advice offered by youtube gardeners would work. An example was one video that said to shovel at any spot in the hosta mass and be "brutal." Just dig 'em up and tear them apart. I couldn't even get a shovel to penetrate this mass of hostas.

I decided to saw the roots. I saw an inexpensive saw at Aldi for $6.45. Mother Nature cooperated by soaking the hostas





I found cutting the roots to be surprisingly easy. The lower shot shows a closeup of the cut roots.

I transplanted them into window boxes and other containers. They are still undergoing a bit of a shock from having their roots cut, but they look surprisingly good.

[magicarpet]

1. Hope all turns out nicely.

Happy Motoring,... oops I meant Happy Gardening.

[Norrrm]

2. Neighbor used one of these right into the dirt to get some from gf's flower bed.

[Bayard]

3. Good job!

You're much nicer than me. I just go after them with a shovel.

Been transplanting tons of things lately from my big flower garden, to other planting beds. They're all surviving.

[Ocelot II]

4. Dividing hostas is quite the job. I use this thing, a Hori Hori knife:

[Historic NY]

5. I only had on big plant now they are all over

from dividing. I think some have gotten eaten over the years

[Figarosmom]

6. I know how hard it is once the leaves start showing

And the mass is really heavy. All mine really needed to be thinned. Last year they pretty much took over. So I did it right when the tops of them appeared. I had to move so many once I thinned them. I actually had to start new beds.

I have an d bowie knife I use outside for cutting tubers apart and cutting turf.