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Divide and conquer

Now that the kids are back at school it is starting to feel like fall. All the signs are here. The sign is up in Brackendale for the Fall Fair. The nights feel colder. Darkness arrives earlier.

Now that the kids are back at school it is starting to feel like fall. All the signs are here. The sign is up in Brackendale for the Fall Fair. The nights feel colder. Darkness arrives earlier.

In the garden, it is tempting to sit back and enjoy the late season blooms and fall colour. You've worked hard all year watering and weeding. Let's face it, with winter on its way, gardening can become a little anti-climatic.

But don't just sit back and rest on your laurels. Don Engebretson says getting lazy in the fall garden is like giving up in the fourth quarter (which is apparently what bad football teams do).

Case in point. September is a perfect month to move and divide perennials. Sure you can do it in the spring, but as there are always so many jobs to do at the start of the season, why not get a jump on next year by moving and separating clumps now?

Some people may wonder why you would want to divide your perennials.

As herbaceous perennials develop an established root system, they spread into large clumps. Growth and performance decrease when plants get crowded. Often the centres die out (example: Iris) and the plant becomes "exhausted" not growing or flowering well. Generally plants should be divided every three to four years.

Division rejuvenates plants and also lets you share with friends or move chunks of the mother plant around your garden to fill in gaps.

I like to dig around the clump I am going to divide with a sharp shovel and then lift the entire clump with a pitchfork. My secret propagating tool is an old pruning saw (or try a serrated knife), which I use to saw the clump into pieces.

Try and select vigorous shoots from the outer part of the clump, and if it is an older plant, you can even discard the centre if it appears to be exhausted.

Try to make large divisions, because smaller pieces will not bloom much the first year after planting. It is always a good idea to add well rotted compost or other organic materials to the soil you will replant the cuttings into.

There is no great fear of losing divided perennials at this time of the year, provided you move them correctly and to an area that contains good soil.

The biggest issue is water, so if the rain doesn't co-operate, you have to ensure that whatever you are moving is well watered until the winter downpours begin.

If you are unsure of which plants to divide, check the Internet for a multitude of resources. But the general rule of thumb is not to divide anything that is blooming or about to come into bloom in the next five weeks (i.e. Asters).

It's a great idea to add "dividing perennials" to your general garden maintenance plan and keep yourself busy while the dying days of summer carry on.

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