Fall is a great time to divide perennials

Now that it is officially fall, it's a great time to divide perennials that have gotten too big for their current location, are producing fewer flowers, or as in the case of plants like Iris, have a dead whole in the middle of healthy foliage.

I have several to tackle this year, and last night a bearded iris got my full attention. Not only was this plant huge, it had a huge whole in the center and there were weeds and even a small tree that were growing in between the rhizomes.

Dividing Iris is really quite simple. You just need to dig up the rhizomes and carefully pull them apart. I also found some rotting on some of mine which I cut off and added to the compost pile. Once divided, replant what you want and give away the rest.

It's really that easy and it's virtually impossible to damage the rhizomes. When replanting be sure the roots are well covered but that the top of the rhizome is only just beneath the surface. If it's planted any deeper, it will not bloom next year. You'll also want to cut back the foliage so the plant's energy can focus on re-establishing itself in the soil.

Photo from UMN Extension.