lift and separate

Cheap and easy ways to propagate plants..

Bergenia cordifolia rhizomes were cut into one inch lengths and placed in a tray of peat free potting compost six weeks ago. Here we see good evidence that they have 'taken' with healthy young leaves showing.


Broken stems of Sedum spectabile were placed into compost after the clumps had been lifted and separated. They are looking good after only one month.

Native primroses (Primula vulgaris) will finishing flowering over the coming weeks. Here, I split one small plant into four at the weekend and have placed the newly divided plants into the polytunnel (hoophouse) to give them a chance to develop strong roots before planting out.

Finally, seed of our native honeysuckle (Lonicera pericyclemenum) was collected in August, separated from the juicy flesh of the berries on sheets of kitchen towel which was laid in a tray of compost. Here a strong young plant is two inches tall but has a few more weeks of nurturing before we make a decision on whether they are strong enough for planting out.