What season do you separate Hostas?

Question

My Hostas are getting SO big and growing over my sidewalk. I want to divide the plants and spread them out some. Just not sure what time of year is best to do this.

Answer 1

Transplanting hostas
Contrary to popular opinions, hostas do not need to be divided, unless the plant outgrows its space if you want to multiply your hostas, then dividing them will give you more plants for no cost.

Sometimes after being in the same location for many years, some Hostas may die out in the center. If this happens, dig up the plant, remove the actively growing plants and discard the dead areas.

Dividing hostas
When dividing a hosta plant, the entire plant should be dug up. Remove as much soil as possible from the roots by either shaking or washing off the roots. Exposed roots make it is easier to determine each individual plant. The clump may be twisted, tugged, and pulled or forked apart, separating the individual plants.

If the plant is tightly congested, use a sharp knife to cut each crown apart. Carefully pull the roots apart so as not to break them off. The crown is the portion of the plant where the leaves join the roots, and there may be many on a large clump. The separation of each individual crown with roots will result in one new plant. If larger clumps are desired, then several crowns may be left together in a clump. There may be damage to some crowns, but the majority will develop into a larger plant. It may not always be necessary to dig the entire clump from the ground.

Hostas can be divided any time the soil can be worked. The important thing to remember is after replanting to supply enough water to keep the plant actively growing. Early spring divisions can be done before leaves emerge. The plant may take the rest of the season to recover from the shock of dividing. Late summer/early fall, damage still may occur to mature foliage, but the plant will have time to reestablish before winter sets in, and will emerge as though undisturbed in the spring. Also if dividing after the foliage matures, existing leaves may flop over and wilt, but new leaves will emerge from the crown. If leaves flop open, just cut off the old leaves, which makes the plant look better.

Answer 2

Hosta can be divided successfully anytime. Be sure to prepare the new spot well, turning soil over and adding some organic matter. Mulch well after planting.
Water deeply and often the first full year--even during winter if no rain or snow falls. Hosta roots continue to develop until the hardest freezes.

The only exception to this rule would be H. tattoo--a singularly fussy plant which can not take overwatering and should be kept potted until it is 2 years old.

Here's a site on dividing Hosta--they are very tough customers:

http://www.ohiolandscaping.com/divide_hosta.php

Happy Digging:)
gg

Answer 3

Most hostas are quite hardy and can be divided any time of the year. Just remember that if you decide to do it in the spring, there may only be little shoots, not leaves.

Have fun.

Answer 4

Generally the excepted time to do any type of seperating on bulbs or rhizomic plants, which hostas are, is in the fall after the growth has died off.

Answer 5

I really don't think it matters when you divide the plants. I have done it at different times....spring, middle of summer...and the end. As long as you water them and keep them out of the hot sun....I'm sure the following year they will do fine. I know that there are all kinds of gardening book and websites that you can use, but I honestly beleive that trial and errors works best.....I know that it works that way for me. As long as you have some knowledge of the plants that you are dealing with.

Answer 6

We took some out of ours in the middle of June to plant at camp. They are doing great. We took about 1/4 or more from our yard, they've pretty much already spread out again. They're very hearty plants.

Answer 7

Spring or Fall