Purple Coneflowers (botanical name: *Echinacea*) are the absolute stars of the summer garden, creating gorgeous seas of color. But here’s the thing: they have a habit of spreading a bit too much via their rootstocks, which can actually zap the energy they need for those beautiful blooms. To keep them happy and healthy, you’ll want to divide your perennials every few years.
Why Divide Your Coneflowers?
There are four main reasons why dividing your Echinacea is a great idea:
- It keeps them from taking over your entire garden bed.
- It boosts the plant’s vitality, ensuring a massive show of flowers.
- It’s the easiest way to propagate and get new plants for free.
- You can harvest the roots to use as a natural herbal remedy.
When is the Best Time?
Before you go grabbing your shovel, give your coneflowers some time to grow up. Many varieties don’t hit “adulthood” until they are about three or four years old, so let the youngsters develop first.
For established plants, a good rule of thumb is to divide them every three to four years to keep them vigorous. Calendar-wise, September to October is the sweet spot. In terms of the plant’s life cycle, you want to do this right after the blooming season has wrapped up.
Keep an eye on the weather, too. You want to divide while the air and soil are still frost-free so the cut roots can recover. Plus, trying to dig up roots in frozen ground is a workout nobody wants!
What Tools Should You Use?
While you *can* pull roots apart by hand, I wouldn’t recommend it for thick rootstocks. To make your life easier, grab:
- A sturdy garden spade or
- A sharp garden knife
The choice depends on how thick the roots are and how much “muscle” you want to put into it. The goal is a nice, clean cut through the rootstock, so use the tool that gives you the most control.
How to Divide Step-by-Step
Ready to get your hands dirty? Here’s how to divide your coneflowers:
- Cut the perennial stems back close to the ground.
- Clear away any old plant debris from the area.
- Carefully dig up the plant or expose the rootstock.
- Use your spade to slice the root clump into two or three sections.
- Clean out any loose root bits from the original hole.
- Toss in a little compost or organic fertilizer (like horn meal) to prep the soil.
- Replant, fill with soil, and give them a good drink of water.
You can gift those new sections to a neighbor or find a fresh spot in your garden to plant them—unless, of course, you’re planning to use the roots for your home apothecary!
