Dividing Hostas

Hastily planted early last fall, this hosta (pictured is 1/4 of the original plant) was dug up and divided into quarters to fill out a newly created garden bed behind the garage that receives only a very few hours of direct sunlight.

Dividing hostas is very easy and seemingly hard to mess up. Spring appears to be the best time, although I've read that it'll handle division just about anytime of the year, maybe with the exception of winter. Dig up a clump and cut it in half or quarters with a spade so that the final clump has five or six shoots. Return them to the soil and before long they'll root and spread their leafy wings once again.

Hostas' tolerance for neglect, unlike baby chicks, is astounding. While walking through a somewhat wooded section of yard, I came across an old hosta that had been tossed in the woods last fall. Despite sitting out all winter on top of a pile of leaves, the plant was actually sending up shoots. It's since been planted in a far corner of the yard and we'll see how it does.

Sources: Bob's Hostas, HGTV, Royal Hort. Soc'y, Ohio State