If you’re a fan of hardy geraniums (also known as Cranesbill), you probably want them everywhere in your garden. And who could blame you? From flower beds and rock gardens to those tricky spots under shrubs, these versatile perennials keep the blooms coming from spring all the way through fall. One of the best parts about growing them is that they are incredibly easy to propagate. Splitting up your favorite plants is not only rewarding, but it’s also one of those garden chores that actually feels like a win-win for you and the plant.
Propagating Your Hardy Geraniums
There are a few ways to get more plants: sowing seeds, taking cuttings, or dividing them. While hybrids are usually grown from cuttings, dividing older plants is definitely the way to go. Think of division as a “spa day” for your perennials—it rejuvenates them, boosts their growth, encourages more flowers, and helps them live longer. The best time to do this is in the spring. Here’s how you do it:
- Use a garden fork to carefully lift the entire plant out of the ground.
- Be gentle! You want to keep the root system as intact as possible.
- Shake off as much excess soil as you can so you can see what you’re working with.
- Now, pull the plant apart gently with your hands. If it’s a tough one, you can use a clean knife or a sharp spade to slice through.
- Depending on how big the original plant was, you can split it into two or even more sections.
- Just make sure every new piece has a healthy set of roots and at least a few shoots.
- Get those “new” plants into the ground or a container right away.
- Give them a good soak immediately and keep them well-watered for a while so they can establish themselves.
Consistent watering is the secret sauce for getting those roots to take hold. If you want to speed things up, you can create a little “mini-greenhouse” by placing a clear plastic cover over the plant to trap humidity. Just keep an eye on it—you don’t want things getting *too* soggy. Hardy geraniums hate “wet feet,” and standing water can lead to root rot pretty quickly.
Best Varieties for Division
While most cranesbills handle division well, these popular types are particularly good candidates for a spring split:
- Cambridge Geranium: Best divided in early spring.
- “Rozanne” Hybrid: This garden favorite responds great to spring division.
- Showy Geranium (Geranium x magnificum): Division in the spring is actually the only way to propagate this beauty.
- Mourning Widow (Geranium phaeum): Another perfect candidate for a spring refresh.
- Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum): This hardy variety is easy to divide once the ground warms up in spring.
