Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Tuesday 22 September 2026 · early spring
Divide Perennial Clumps for Free Plants
As early spring begins, dividing your crowded perennial plants is the easiest way to double your garden stock for free.
5 minuteseasypropagation
Identify a mature clump of daylilies or other spring perennials that has grown too dense.
Dig up the entire root ball carefully using a garden trowel or spade.
Gently pull the root clump apart into two or three smaller sections, ensuring each piece has healthy roots and green shoots.
Replant the new divisions immediately at the same depth they were growing before.
Water the replanted divisions thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
Why it works
Dividing crowded plants relieves congestion, which allows more air, light, and nutrients to reach the roots. This physical separation stimulates fresh, vigorous root growth and results in healthier foliage and more flowers.
A desert-dwelling perennial shrub with leathery, reticulate-veined leaves and bright yellow sunflower-like blooms. It is endemic to the Mojave Desert mountains.
Dry summer takes toll on garden centre gardening sales
A long period of hot and dry weather in August caused garden stores to sell fewer plants and gardening products than they did at the same time last year.
On 22 September 1777, early American botanist John Bartram died at age 78. He established the first botanical garden in North America on his farm in Pennsylvania. Carl Linnaeus once called him the greatest natural botanist in the world.
