Photo: Hellebore 'niger'
Q. What are herbaceous perennials?
A. These are plants that normally grow from below soil level during the spring. In summer and autumn they produce leaves, flowers, and sometimes fruit. They then die down below ground level during winter to re-emerge in the spring to start the cycle all over again.
Some of the old dead growth that has looked good all winter from plants such as Sedum Spectibile and Astilbe have been ravaged by the recent weather and need a clean up. The new growth of the season is already emerging. Where the old growth doesn’t pull away from the plant easily, chop this down with shears or if there is a danger or damaging the new growth, use secateurs. Ornemental grasses can be left until last as they hold last year’s growth well without looking too scruffy. Grasses that have died off can be cut down to just above the new shoots. The evergreen grasses can be combed through with a rake to pull out the dead thatch. All the trimmings can be wheeled onto the compost heap using the trusty wheelbarrow.
Q. How can these be divided?
A. Now the weather is drying off a bit it’s a good time to divide most perennials and grasses. With a lot of perennials the centres tend to die off if they are not divided as the growth moves out, away from the original plant, which eventually weakens the whole clump. Perennial clumps can be gently lifted with a fork and the soil shaken off the roots. The youngest sections can be pulled off or cut apart with a knife then replanted. When the new offshoots are planted take the opportunity to improve the soil by adding compost, manure and a handful of plant food such as blood fish and bone into the planting hole. Digging up and dividing perennial plants at this time of year are an ideal opportunity to reposition any you feel are in the wrong place. In my case it’s rare a plant goes into the right place when I first plant them and it generally takes me a few attempts to be totally happy with the result.
Horticultural.
A. These are plants that normally grow from below soil level during the spring. In summer and autumn they produce leaves, flowers, and sometimes fruit. They then die down below ground level during winter to re-emerge in the spring to start the cycle all over again.
Some of the old dead growth that has looked good all winter from plants such as Sedum Spectibile and Astilbe have been ravaged by the recent weather and need a clean up. The new growth of the season is already emerging. Where the old growth doesn’t pull away from the plant easily, chop this down with shears or if there is a danger or damaging the new growth, use secateurs. Ornemental grasses can be left until last as they hold last year’s growth well without looking too scruffy. Grasses that have died off can be cut down to just above the new shoots. The evergreen grasses can be combed through with a rake to pull out the dead thatch. All the trimmings can be wheeled onto the compost heap using the trusty wheelbarrow.
Q. How can these be divided?
A. Now the weather is drying off a bit it’s a good time to divide most perennials and grasses. With a lot of perennials the centres tend to die off if they are not divided as the growth moves out, away from the original plant, which eventually weakens the whole clump. Perennial clumps can be gently lifted with a fork and the soil shaken off the roots. The youngest sections can be pulled off or cut apart with a knife then replanted. When the new offshoots are planted take the opportunity to improve the soil by adding compost, manure and a handful of plant food such as blood fish and bone into the planting hole. Digging up and dividing perennial plants at this time of year are an ideal opportunity to reposition any you feel are in the wrong place. In my case it’s rare a plant goes into the right place when I first plant them and it generally takes me a few attempts to be totally happy with the result.
Horticultural.
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