MT Gardening

The snow has gone for now and the ground has become a little softer; this gives me the opportunity to do a few things in the garden. For one, check out the dahlias in the glasshouse (check for overly soft tubers and remove as this could be disease which could spread onto other tubers). Where possible, lift and divide some of your perennial stock (although there is plenty of time to do this) especially where they have become crowded, and enjoy the winter colour in your or local gardens.

Division

Propagating plants by division is fast and reliable. After dividing, each propagule should have an established root and stem system and will often have fully functioning leaves as well. This allows for rapid establishment and development of the new plant, which therefore requires only minimal care and attention. All plants produced in this way are genetically identical to the parent plant. The main disadvantage of this method is that only a few plants can be produced from the parent plant at any one time and pests such as eelworms, plus diseases and viruses can be passed on. The best time to propagate by this method is during the dormant season just after leaf fall or prior to bud burst. The parent plant selected for propagation should be healthy, vigorous, pest and disease free and true to type.

Method

Dig up the parent plant from the border or stock bed. Shake or wash off excess soil.

Separate large clumps into sections using a pair of border forks back to back. In the case of very tough clumps with densely interwoven roots, a spade can be used to chop the clump into sections. Smaller or less dense clumps may be teased apart by hand.

Large clumps can be progressively divided to obtain the maximum number of independent propagules with roots, shoots and leaves. Alternatively the clump may be split only a few times to produce larger more mature daughter clumps.

Trim excess leaves to minimise water loss by transpiration and thereby reduce transplanting shock. Excess and damaged roots can also be trimmed to ease planting and lining out. Dead leaves and material should be removed to reduce the chances of infection.

Propagules and clumps can be planted out either directly in the final planting position, lined out in a nursery bed or planted in containers. Ensure planting is at the same depth as the parent plant. Water in, label and date the propagules.

A balanced top dressing fertiliser can be applied once the plants are actively growing and established. The propagules should be ready for lifting or potting off, or on, the following dormant season.

Division of Herbaceous Perennials with Distinct Buds (Eyes) - eg, Host Sieboldii

This is arried out in a similar way to fibrous rooted herbaceous perennials, but each propagule should contain at least one dormant bud (eye). A large knife can be used to cut up the sections of the plant to ensure this objective is achieved. The propagule can be potted or lined out in a nursery bed.

Ornamental Grasses

Wait a little longer to lift grasses, I tend to do these when they are in active growth - the result being that I tend to get less dieback. Check out these examples:

• Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ - www.rhs.org.uk/ plants/103968/panicum-virgatum-heavy-metal/details.

• Anemanthele lessoniana - www.rhs.org.uk/plants/128871/ anemanthele-lessoniana/details.

• Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ - www.rhs.org.uk/ plants/72074/calamagrostis-x-acutiflora-karl-foerster/details.

• Miscanthus sinensis ‘China’www.rhs.org.uk/ plants/104385/ miscanthussinensis-china/ details.

• Festuca glauca - ‘Elijah Blue’ www.rhs.org.uk/ plants/104179/ festuca-glaucaelijah-blue/details. Check out this link for other tasks to do this month www. which.co.uk/reviews/ gardening-through-theyear/article/guides and click on February.

Happy gardening!

For any gardening tips please contact Tom Cole, Horticultural Lecturer, Capel Manor College, Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Middlesex, EN1 4RR, or email tom.cole@capel.ac.uk.