When is the best time to divide hostas?

Dear Master Gardeners, I recently bought a home in Dayton. There is a flower bed that has a large grouping of hostas. Can I divide them and when is the best time to do so?

Answer: Congratulations on your new home! And yes, hosta plants can be divided to give you more plantings and spring and fall are best times for division. As the days get warmer you will begin to see the new growth appear and you can divide these up until the first leaves unfurl which is approximately a month.

In the fall, hosta plants can be divided up until the first freezing temperatures come in. To divide hostas first begin by thoroughly soaking the plants if you have not had any rain in the past couple of days from when you plan to divide. Dig up the entire clump with a spade or garden fork, make sure to dig six to eight inches outside of the crown. Some varieties may extend eight to eighteen inches deep. Work all around the clump then ease it out of the ground. If you can’t get it all because of large size, then use a sharp spade to cut it up into manageable pieces.

Once out of the soil, remove excess soil, you can brush this or use a water hose to be able to better see the eyes more clearly.

At this point, cut through the clump, trying to avoid the roots and eyes. Divide these into smaller sections-each section needs at least one eye more are better if you can get them. Clean and soak your new divisions, remove any broken roots, damaged and dead leaves if any. Clean out any weeds you may see in the remaining soil around the roots, then soak for 5 to 10 minutes before planting.

The new site needs to be shady with good drainage and place in the same depth as where they were growing prior to division. Water them in well to avoid air pockets. Keep spring divisions watered regularly, fall divisions less frequent watering is required. Thank you for your question, and Happy Gardening!

Send questions to rheacomg@gmail.com or write to Rhea County Extension Office, c/o Master Gardeners, 125 Court Street, Suite 3, Dayton, TN, 37281.