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Ok to divide plants now #862665

Asked March 27, 2024, 4:26 PM EDT

Can I successfully divide perennial plants now? I have alpine strawberries, bloody sorrel etc that would like to divide and move Thank you Amy

Franklin County Ohio

Expert Response

Hi Amy, the simple answer is that you can do it now.  I would however wait until the weather is going to be mild and not freezing.  The trouble with moving plants this time of the year is that they haven't had the opportunity to get rooted into the soil properly.  It takes some time for the roots to grow down into the soil to establish the plant in the new location.  I have gone out almost every day after moving things to find that the freeze thaw cycle has pushed the plant out of the ground about three to four inches.  That means that the roots soon dry out and the plant dies.  

You can when you find a stretch of not so cold freeze thaw cycles move the plants and then go out almost every day to make sure that they are still in the ground at the proper depth.  Sometimes, a light addition of thin mulch helps keep the temperature more even on the newly transplanted plants.  You don't want to put a lot of mulch on them.  Just a little mulch will keep the soil a little cooler and more moist for root establishment.  Also, I usually use a starter fertilizer - water soluble fertilizer but maybe weaker at half the rate.  It helps get the moved plant off to a better start.  

Hope this helps.  Don Creamer

Sara Creamer Replied March 28, 2024, 11:38 AM EDT

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