Dividing Hostas and Hydrangeas

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LorraineR Gilmer, TX(Zone 8a) May 25, 2007

I know Hostas are easy to divide, but I haven't had the nerve. Can someone tell me the best way to do it. Also, when should I do it. I also need to know if I can divide Hydrangeas. I have some that are sooooo big that I could divide and wouldn't be able to tell, but I'm not sure if I can. I'm really dumb about plants, but love to garden so I need all the help I can get so I don't just end up with lots of beds and no plants!!

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 25, 2007

Hydrangeas are shrubs so you don't divide them, if it's getting too big you can prune it. It's generally best to prune them right after blooming.

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GRDNR1 May 25, 2007

Hosta are very hardy (at least in Zone 7). To divide, push two gardening forks down into the middle of the hosta plant, back to back, and pry against each other until the plant is pulled apart into two pieces. If you wish, you can then divide each piece again in the same manner. Then plant each division in fertile soil in shade to part shade, lay a 2 inch layer of mulch around the base of the plants, water in well until established. That's pretty much it!

The only drawback w/hosta that I have seen is that slugs love them, but that's easily fixed by pouring slug pellets around them.

You can divide most any time of year, unlike lots of other plants. They're pretty flexible. You'd almost have to try to kill a hosta. Good luck!

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LorraineR Gilmer, TX(Zone 8a) May 25, 2007

Thanks for the help. I actually got brave enough to divide some today. I feel like a real gardner now.

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Noreaster Maine, United States(Zone 5b) May 25, 2007

If you have pets, I highly recommend Sluggo- I haven't seen a single hole in my hostas yet, and my yard is slug city. Come to think of it, haven't seen any slugs, either!

Lorraine, I know the feeling- I divided my first ones too recently. I had to actually saw it into wedges because the root balls were too heavy for me to lift out of the ground. I don't know if that was the right thing to do, but they look absolutely fine, like nothing ever happened...except now there are six instead of two.

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