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Is this the time to be dividing clumps of hosta? I thought it was spring before lots of new growth, but have also been told autumn as leaves die off is the best time.
They have been in pots for at least 4 years and are very overcrowded. I have a few varieties and don't want to kill them off by dividing at the wrong time.

Now is a good time 8)

Thanks Roy, will see if I can get out there and do it before the cold sets in.
:)

I'll be doing mine in that case; one patch has got to the point where my path is in danger of disappearing under the leaves. The rest are still a bit mingy and can stay as they are.

i divided some of my hosta around this time last year,  and they where fine after you divide them the next years growth seems to be smaller , but the second year they will soon catch up

Roy is it ok to move ferns this time of year ?

I think the spring division thing comes from the fact that you can see clearly where all the new buds are forming so you can split the plant up appropriately. The advantage to doing it now os that the roots can get growing in the warm soil & settle down before winter.

Quote from: dibberxxx on September 13, 2005, 11:37:54
Roy is it ok to move ferns this time of year ?

I've no idea but I have moved a couple into pots to give to a friend and he potted them up into bigger pots, that was at the begging of summer :)

#When I've divided them in the past it's been thoroughly unscientific, I just cut the root mass through with a spade. They revovered without too much problem, only I underestimated the space they'd be needing after a few years and put them in too close to the path.

I have 5 biggish tubs with hostas in and tend to divide them in spring so I can get a fresh supply of compost and feed in at the same time.  They get a fresh gravel topping then as I've found it does tend to put most slugs off - but never all of them!  The ones in the ground get sorted at the same time.