TASK

PERENNIAL

Dividing plants increases flower production

PARABLE TIME. Let’s look

at the Smith family. Iris and

Bud were introduced to a promising area of Garden City and, after the usual period of adjustment, they settled right

in. Took root so to speak.

They became one of the more prosperous families in the neighborhood and, as with most prosperous tribes, they were fruit- ful and multiplied. Iris and Bud begat Lily and Basil who soon began some begettin’ themselves. Soon we had little Smiths popping up all over Garden City like weeds.

plan:iers carve Garden City up into smatler chunks of crowded neighborhoods. Nor should we allow them to permit over-crowded beds,

I am not being sanctimonious here, I just believe in healthy sur- roundings for our little ones. That would include the preservation of

over the

: garden gate

The trouble was, none of them were too anxious to leave home. Bud kept addin; on to the family digs and tried to fit more little ones into the same bunk but eventually the inevitable happened: crowded

As more and more of the family reserves were absorbed by the sprouts of the family, prosperity waned. This once healthy produc- tive family that flowered in its ear- ly years was now reduced to barren semblance of its former glory.

The moral of our story is ob- vious: Do not let the community .

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gteen spaces like those currently targeted for development around Lyan Canyon. Oh, by the way, there is another possible interpretation for our little story. Before allowing your flower beds to become overcrowded and therefore unproductive, you should consider dividing your

perennials. . ‘ Almost all of your flowering perenniai plants will eventually outgrow their allotted space. Dividing your plants will not only increase their health and flower production, it is also an excelient

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way to increase your stocks.

Some plants such as phlox and the rhizomatous-rooted irises, reach this stage in a few short years, while day lilies and heleniums are examples of plants that are likely to be fine for five or more years.

There are a few plants, peonies and the gas plant (dictamnus) as a good example, are better left alone. Divisions from these plants can take up to five years to come back iniv flower.

If you are unsure as to whether your particular plant should be divided, try visiting the library. A little research into one of the better books on perennials will give you the best approximate period be- tween divisions.

in the meantime here are a few tips. The first being do it soon.

Most perennials are best divided at the beginning of the dormant season so that the roots can re- establish themselves over the winter, before the rigors of the next growing season.

Plants such as bearded irises, bergenia, and sclomon sea) grow on rhizomes; creeping, thickened, underground stems. These should be lifted carefully, trying to avoid breaking or bruising the rhizomes.

Once out of the ground and

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13 - Friday, October 20, 1989 — North Shore News

GLO SHOOT

ANY PLANT, indoors or outdoors, that bas a fleshy rhizome creeping along the soil surface can be divided. Cut divisions of the rhizome so that each piece has strong leaf growth attached. To divide rhizomes, dig after blooming. Cut back leaves to six inches. Cut away healthy, new rhizomes; discard old centre seciton. Replant each division with top of

thizome slightly exposed above soil.

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