I have some hosta plants that are getting quite large and are crowded where they are located right now. What do I need to worry about when moving/splitting hostas?
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Don't know if this is the best technique but here is what I did and it worked :)
Go all around the clump pushing in a shovel as far as it will go. You should now be able to pry/lift the plant out of the hole with the root/dirt ball intact. Work the shovel down between the plant stems to slice/pry them apart trying to keep as many of the roots attached to their stems as possible. I divided the root ball into quarters leaving a generous clump (5-10) of stems with lots of roots still attached for planting.
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This method worked for me as well. The best time to move hostas is late summer/early fall or spring.– ShannaJun 16, 2011 at 9:24
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2They're pretty tough - I ended up using an axe to split one of mine, and judging from the results it thrives on abuse.– chrisJun 16, 2011 at 17:20
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1I use an old hand saw to split plants. Sure, it cuts some roots, but it's pretty non-damaging to everything but the actual cut portion.– pboinJun 21, 2011 at 15:52
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When using relatively decent soil conditions (ie. not sand) I have yet to succeed in "killing" a hosta by splitting, moving, or replanting one. I have literally handled thousands over the 8+ years as a landscaper. Sure, leaves may die or wilt in the initial season, but EVERY year they continue to pop back up. Have at it and split away with a spade, axe, shovel, your hands, trowel, edger...– PhlumeNov 22, 2014 at 15:42