False Fall

33% off All* Plants and bagged EarthMix® Garden™ through 9/4, closed Labor Day

Summer is coming to a close. We’ve delighted in overnight temps in the 50s. So what’s a gardener to do in this in-between time? There are still many tasks that can be accomplished. Take a stroll and see how the season’s been treating your plantings. Hydrangeas are browning, perennials are pleading to be dead-headed, and weeds are poking up through the cracks in the sidewalk. Your shrubs may have the odd dead branch to be removed. While these tasks might not fill you with excitement, they will make your fall planting more enjoyable.

Wait, you’ve done that already?! Well surely there’s something you’ve forgotten. When was the last time you divided your perennials? Plants like Iris, Daylily, Perennial Geranium, Heuchera, Canna, and Hosta benefit from division. The first step to diving perennials when it’s been dry is to water the area you’ll be digging in a day or two before you plan to work. Softer soil & hydrated roots set you up for success. When it’s time to dig, make sure you’re working on an overcast day or in the shade. With rhizomes like Iris and Canna, shallow roots make for easy dividing. Loosen the soil around the edges, and pull the clumps out with a trowel or hori hori. Trim the foliage back for easier handling and cut apart the sections. Most importantly, replant them at the same depth they were before. Any deeper and they may rot.

Many perennials, like Hosta and Geranium, will “tell” you when they’re ready to be divided by growing smaller leaves or not blooming regularly. Dig around the perimeter with your shovel and lift the entire rootball out. Using a sharp serrated blade or scissors, separate the root ball into smaller sections. Doing this now gives the plants time to get established before cold weather. For added insurance, shake some mycorrhizae granules into the area before watering in thoroughly. You’ll want to plant the same day you divide to ensure success. And just like that, one plant becomes many!

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Sara Bates

*in-store only; sale excludes tropical houseplants & Japanese maples