Dividing large plants

shellmh

Hi,

In our yard we have some very large forsythia and rose of sharon bushes that the previous owners planted years ago. We've been talking about divided them slightly and keeping the main large bushes where they are, but planting the smaller divisions in other parts of the yard. Is spring the right time of the year to be doing this? And most importantly.. how do we go about doing this? Both plants are too large for us to dig up completely to divide (the only answer I could find online). Both have smaller shoots that have shot off to the sides and back. Could we simply dig those up and replant them? 

~NB~

Division is usually only done to herbaceaous perennials. I've never tried to divide a woody shrub.

-auntie-

Some woody shrubs will propigate by naturally layering. If a branch has been in contact with the ground and rooted, once it's fairly established you can transplant it.  I've done this with butterfly bush, though not on purpose.

shellmh

Thanks. According to DH, there are a bunch of smaller, individual plants behind the big plant. So you think those would have their own system of roots? They're pretty decently sized, so they've been there for a couple years on their own. I'm just so worried about killing the big plant.. it is huge!

dirtyred

If you just dig up the babies it shouldn't affect the mature plant at all.  And if my forsythia is typical, it will take a lot more than removing offshoots to kill it.  In fact, it might be impossible to kill it without concerted effort!

Mashara

Sounds like maybe you have some offshoots from the main plant's roots (most people call these suckers) or some seedlings.

I would go in from thee side they're on and dig some soil away from their roots. See if there's a large-ish root that connects them to the main plant. If so, then take a shovel/spade/knife and separate between the two before digging the baby out.

Suckers can just be too close too and dependent on the main plant to survive removal. You'll have a good idea what you're in for when you dig back some of the soil. Good luck!

GRsweetpea

I've taken shoots away from our giant lilacs with success.  Like someone else said, you could dig up the shoots, and probably not impact the main plant too much. 

I've done the layering thing with our forcythia, and it works well. 

shellmh

Thanks everyone... I feel a lot more confident now..