Two jobs with one plant

Red persicaria is an attractive plant Little alpines will soon spread Large plants can be divided with a spade or two garden forks held back-to-back

Planting bistort divisions and alpines to help keep rockery weeds at bay

Two jobs with one plant! Ruth beats invasive rockery weeds with a split perennial

COMPLETING two jobs in the time you’ve allocated for one is one of the most satisfying things about gardening. Our problematic rockery, overrun with weeds and rampant campanula, needs a complete overhaul and is one of the major projects earmarked for 2020. We also have a large clump of red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis ) that is stunning when in full flower, but which has grown tatty and uncontained. In winter it resembles a tangled brown mat, but in summer it transforms into a mass of emerald leaves topped with attractive pink flower spikes that turn a glorious red as they ripen. The bistort’s spreading habit means it is excellent for suppressing weeds –and unregulated campanula! –so I decided to split it and plant the divisions in other areas of rockery. Although the plant is large and tangled, it was easy to remove a few plantlets as several of its many offshoots were lightly rooted and could be carefully dug from the soil without damage to their roots. I replanted these offshoots in an area of rockery cleared of weeds and campanula, and added a couple of little alpines that will hopefully spread and similarly help keep weeds and other unwanted plants at bay. Two jobs in one morning –and just in time for a well-deserved mug of coffee!

Tips for dividing

A healthy start for new plants

Protect roots while transplanting Perennials can be divided in winter and early spring as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen. Lift the parent plant, keeping as much soil around its roots as possible, then cut into divisions using a spade or two garden forks held back-to-back and levered apart. Make sure each new plant has healthy roots and top growth before you plant it, making sure it goes in the ground at the same depth as the parent plant. Water and keep weed-free. If there is a delay between dividing and planting, wrap the roots in damp paper and store somewhere cool for up to 24 hours.

Step by step

Replanting perennial divisions to beat weeds

1Clear the planting area of stones, debris, unwanted plants and their roots. Break up compacted soil.

2This soil is thin and undernourished, so I forked in lots of rich homemade compost and leafmould.

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