Dividing your Perennials is so easy that anyone can do it, and will bring you so much joy knowing that you are expanding your gardens without spending a dime!

Over the years you may notice that your Perennials are beginning to take over a certain area or becoming a little leggy. In the beginning of Spring before the temperatures get hot you can easily dig these little babies up and divide them. A few tools you will need are a shovel, spade, and a serrated knife. This is a great way to expand your garden!
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Some of the best Perennials to divide in my opinion are the ones that grow from Rhizomes or Tubers. These are so easy because once you dig them up it is so simple to see where to cut or pull apart. Just by looking them over you will see where the roots have began to branch off, and are so easy to divide. 

Some of the easiest to divide are:

• Elephant Ears
• Irises
• Lady Fern
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Rhubarb
• Hostas
• Daisies
• Monarda

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Like I mentioned before, you want to make sure that you divide your Perennials when it is nice and cool outside. This will allow the roots to grow comfortably in the ground without drying out. It will also ensure that the new growth will not burn up in the heat of Summer. 

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Be sure to always dig at least 4-6 inches around your plant. You want to make sure you get every root you can. Make sure you do not cut off the thick feeder roots. If so you drastically lower the likely hood of your new divisions surviving. 

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Another little tip to remember is to water your Perennials before digging them up. This will make your job so much easier as it will moisten the soil and keep the roots wet while you transplant them. I promise this will help tremendously. 

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Always let the roots be your guide and keep the healthiest parts. The roots are the most important part of the plant. If you keep them happy and healthy then the plant will take care of itself. Also, if some of the divisions don't look very healthy...don't feel bad getting rid of them. This will inevitably happen with all plants throughout the years. 

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I always, always, ALWAYS put a little compost in the holes before I place any plant. Compost is so easy to create and maintain! There is so much organic waste that we simply throw in the garbage when we could give it back to the earth from where it came. Stay tuned as I will be doing a blog on creating your own compost very soon!

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Lastly, make sure you give your new divisions plenty of space to settle in their new homes. This will ensure that they have plenty of room to spread their new roots.

I love dividing my Perennials as it makes me and my wallet so happy! It is fun and easy. Don't be afraid to take a chance on some of your Perennials that are taking up too much space! All of the Hostas and Grasses below were divided to expand the garden!

A lot of people are scared to bring their plants indoors during the Winter time, but I assure that even you can have beauty all year round with a few of my favorite tips for caring for them and keeping those pesky bugs and fungus away. 

The best thing about caring for your plants once you bring them indoors during the Winter time is that many of the supplies you need are most likely sitting around your home already. Below is an image of the items that I commonly use:

Pictured from left to right:
Dawn dish soap, a clove of garlic, Ammonia, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.

These household items will help your plants thrive and stay bug free until its time to put the beauties back outside in the fresh, warm air.

Hydrogen peroxide can kill molds such as powdery mildew and the black, sooty mold caused by aphids. 
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Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. Soak the soil surface around your plants with the hydrogen peroxide spray. Spray the area once per day for one week to control pests. The hydrogen peroxide will not kill eggs, so you may need to repeat the treatment weekly to remove all the bugs. And again this helps with multiple types of mold.

Here are some tips for bringing your plants inside:

• Most flowering plants need to be within three feet of a sunny window.
• Most plants require 12 to 16 hours of light per day.
• Rotate plants every once in a while to encourage even growth and prevent legginess.

Believe it or not, more houseplants die from over-watering than from anything else! It is important to remember that most of the plants you will bring inside over the winter will have dramatically less sunlight, and are going through their dormancy, so they will require less water. One of my best tips when watering is to use room temperature water. Imagine stepping into a freezing bath, that is how your plants fill when watered with cold water. Another tip to increase their foliage color is by adding a few drops of ammonia to one quart of water. 

Pests can be a real pain. They usually appear after outdoor plants are brought inside for the winter, or when a new houseplant is brought home. One very simple way to clear your soil of bugs is by placing a clove of garlic in your soil. Also, mist your plant with a spray bottle full of water with just a drop of dish detergent as it makes it difficult for the pests to cling to the leaves. You can remove aphids from your plants by spraying a mixture of equal parts water and rubbing with a drop of dish detergent, then brushing the leaves with a soft bristled brush. 


Here are a couple other tips I like to do for my plants to keep them extra happy:

• Re-invigorate your houseplants by removing the top ¼ inch of soil and topping with fresh potting soil.
• If your houseplants’ leaves look dusty, gently wipe them down with a wet paper towel. Too much dust can clog a plant’s pores, making it harder for the plant to “breathe.”

I always bring my tropical plants indoors for the Winter and they love it. Just remember to not water as often, pay attention to lighting conditions, and keep an eye out for any unwelcome hitchhikers. With these tips I know that you will enjoy happy, healthy plants in your home just like I do.