Eager gardeners lined up early to snap up bargains at the Fergus Horticultural Society’s May 11 plant sale.
The annual event is the society’s only fundraiser. It allows them to purchase new plants for the group’s gardens and to carry on horticultural activities throughout the year.
This year’s sale was a bargain hunter’s extravaganza. Many plants were priced at $3.
Plants were collected from many of the 23 sites the society tends and from individual member’s gardens.
The majority of the plants were perennials, with native plants, grasses and small shrubs included in the collection.
The society’s gardeners know that perennials must be divided every three or four years to keep them growing healthily with colourful and fragrant blossoms.
Once divided, these plants are surplus to the society’s needs and are potted up and placed in the annual sale.
Julie Kron, master gardener said that perennials do best when they are divided in early spring. That is when new growth starts.
“It’s best to catch them early so they will transplant very easily,” Kron said.
Long time gardeners easily recognize when a plant has become overcrowded. These plants have to “compete” for vital moisture and soil nutrients. In many cases, only the strong will survive. Plants must be divided for continued growth. Plants that grow in crowded conditions will have very restricted air circulation. Air is essential to prevent many damaging diseases.
Doreen Telford, gardens coordinator, said that perennial plants vary widely in their growth habits and rate of growth. Some grow slowly and take a long time to become established while others grow so quickly they will threaten to take over the garden and become somewhat invasive. These plants must be divided once a gardener notices a few telltale signs.
Telford continued to explain that certain perennials will grow in an ever-widening clump. If they are not divided the center of the clump will begin to die out. The clump will resemble a doughnut more than a clump.
Dividing plants allows them to live longer.
“Plants must be divided to keep them growing vigorously and of course blooming,” said Telford.
She also commented on the bonus of getting extra plants, to put somewhere else in the garden or to pot them for a plant sale.
Dividing plants in early spring will allow for an entire growing season for the plant to recover from the stress of being divided. Plants require a strong root system to survive our winter.
In the early spring, when the weather is cool, there is generally enough moisture in the ground. Most root systems have enough stored energy to make sure the plant recovers from any division. Once a divided portion of the plant is replanted it should be watered thoroughly. Lack of moisture will be a major detriment.
The general rule of thumb of spring division is to wait until new shoots have emerged (5-10cm). This will allow you to see at a glance the healthiest parts of the plant. Simply cut a portion of the plant and replant. These new divisions will soon grow.
Early spring perennials that have flowered or are in the process of flowering should be divided after they have completed the blooming cycle.
And the process continues. Plants purchased at the sale will need to be divided in three or four years.
Ron Stevenson is a member of the Fergus Horticultural Society.
