When is the best time to seperate hostas? I have several huge hosta that i would like to move parts of them?

Question

to another garden. Is this best done now or in the fall?
What's the best way to do this?

Answer 1

The best tools to remove the clumps from the ground are spading forks that have flat blades or spades. Dig around the clump, starting six inches from the edge of the crown. Once you have cut a circle around the clump, pry it lose and pop it out of the ground. On very large clumps in heavy, rocky, or clay soils, it can be a chore.
Begin dividing the clumps by washing the roots in a bucket of water or with a hose end sprayer. You will be able to clean the dirt off the crown and the roots. The next step, after cleaning the dirt off of the roots, is to pull any easily removable stems or "eyes" from the crown.
If you cannot break the clump apart, a sharp knife will have to be used. Remember, since you want to keep as many roots and leaves as possible, make your cuts through the crown, but not into the roots.
Do not let the roots dry out at all. If you cannot plant them right away, place some moist soil or peat moss on the roots and put them in dense shade.
Hostas can be divided any time of the year, but August is best, because at this time of the year plants are actively growing new roots. If you divide in the spring before the eyes have completely expanded, expect to have smaller plants and shorter leaves. The same results will occur if you have to use a knife and cut the crowns.

Answer 2

you can do this now just wait till the sun has set dig up the hosta keep the roots wet as you cut it apart use a sharp knife be sure to leave roots on each piece now you will lose some but dont worry you can wait till the next day to plant as long as you keep them out of the sun and keep them wet when the sun has set dig the holes fill them with water let the water go down then plant the hosta then add some liquid fertilizer i have worked in a lot of hostas here in tennessee i did work at a place where we broke them up and repotted them good luck

Answer 3

The best time is to divide is early spring, when the new growth just begin to show. Large clumps can be cut into quarters using a sharp, straight edged shovel, an axe or a large knife. To divide smaller Hostas, dig up the clump and shake off most of the soil. Pull the rhizomes apart or seperate them with a sharp knife, making sure each division has a good cluster of leaves and plenty of roots. When you replant be sure to leave plenty of space for growth, because each summer will see your specimens grow larger and better.

Answer 4

I don't know the exact time but I have divided mine during spring,summer,and fall. I was worried when I dug them up in the summer(I moved to a new home and didn't want to leave them) and they did not do as well that summer,but came back the following summer with no ill effects.

Answer 5

I stay in zone 5 and have divided hostas in the two the spring and the autumn. while you're doing it in the spring, do it whilst there is not any longer lots danger of frost. in the autumn, determine you examine the 1st frost date on your area and permit a minimum of four to 6 weeks for the roots to settle in. the two way works for me.

Answer 6

Wait until they have their leaves. then they will not be in so much shock and you can be sure that you split as much or as little as you wanted to