Whether you have towering, little spreading rosette or small, perennial shrubs like autumn Joy, you absolutely need to know when to divide sum. Sedum is gorgeous, low maintenance plants that add color and shape to almost any landscape. They are perfect for a sunny window space, patio or deck. While they do well in full sun, sometimes you might not have full sun to provide just the right amount of light for growing these plants to the fullest.
When to divide sedums? When you are looking at your plants and see that they are not thriving in the area that you want them to be, divide your plantings. SEDums like to have moist soil but some varieties do better in drier areas. Check the leaf shape and texture for accuracy. If you see a leaf that is pointing up or flat with a dull color, it will probably be best if you divide your plantings so that some of them get a bit more moisture.
How to divide your plantings is not a major concern because your plants will most likely continue to grow as long as they get the moisture they need. Your main concern is dividing old, established plants into new plants that will be better suited for your climate. This means you might have to move some of your plants around. If you have young seedlings, you can move them to a different part of your yard when you divide sedum plants.
The best way to tell when to divide your sedum plants is to look at the quality of your soil. There is a small difference between succulents and other garden plants, but it is quite noticeable. A healthy soil with a good mixture of clays and silt will hold on to water better than clay that is over-saturated with clay. If you don’t have a very good soil, the process of division might prove difficult and you might end up with mushy, green leaves or succulent roots.
When you are dividing your sedums, the best strategy is to plant them in groups of three or four. Planting groups of four will make it easier if you have less garden space. It will also allow you to divide your plants without worrying about competing for space with other plants in your yard. Some plants will take over other less attractive plants if they have more foliage, while others might prefer the privacy of being alone if they are small.
You should divide sedums on an annual schedule. They are best divided in the spring, when they are just turning colors, but there is no rule against dividing your plants when they are older. You can divide your sedums based on the type of plant, or you can consider the growing habits of each class and decide which class to focus on first. For example, perennial shrubs like sedums that grow close together do well when planted as single plants over a narrow space, while annuals can be more expansive.
The main consideration when you are dividing your plant group is whether they will all gain the same benefit. Perennials like sedums do well when divided in one year, but it is more difficult to keep them all alive if they are packed into one little pot. In this case, it might be a good idea to have another container for each separate perennial you want to separate. For instance, if you plant your perennials in four separate containers, you can just divide them and keep them all alive. If you plant four perennials in two different pots, you will have to divide them and then keep two of them alive so they can grow back to be part of another planting. This can be a very quick process when you are doing it this way, but it is important to be thorough.
The bottom line is that there is not a set time when it is okay to divide your plants, but you must determine when it is best for each plant. Some perennials need to be divided every few years, especially those that have a shallow root system because they will not have time to spread out before being divided. Other plants may take longer, especially those that have an upright growth.
