I'm currently re-doing an area where the hosta have been living for
nearly 10 years without being disturbed. There are layer upon layers of
crown before one get's to the actively growing area. I tend to
carefully peel back these layers instead of hacking them with a shovel
(sometimes I have to use a knife) and keeping as much of the roots
together.

Will these pieces of older crown that have been buried under the new
growth begin sprouting eyes again now that I've "liberated" them? -- or
will they remain forever dormant? It appears that they have all that is
needed to get going again, since they are no longer crowded out.

Indyrose

I just divided two blue mammoths - they were so big it took about an
hour each to get them out of the ground. No teasing these roots loose -
I took a knife and cut and cut and cut. Abd cussed and

I did this very early this spring and they are in a new location
unfolding and getting bigger leaves than they had before (I do not
understand this but maybe with the extra space?). Each piece had 3-5
eyes but the new growth is showing more, so I would expect your older
growth will take off also.

They say you can move then spring or fall but in the spring you might
not get the nicely rounded look. Mine are looking beautiful and rounded.

Indyrose wrote:
I'm currently re-doing an area where the hosta have been living for
nearly 10 years without being disturbed. There are layer upon layers of
crown before one get's to the actively growing area. I tend to
carefully peel back these layers instead of hacking them with a shovel
(sometimes I have to use a knife) and keeping as much of the roots
together.

Will these pieces of older crown that have been buried under the new
growth begin sprouting eyes again now that I've "liberated" them? -- or
will they remain forever dormant? It appears that they have all that is
needed to get going again, since they are no longer crowded out.

Indyrose

In article .com,
"Indyrose" wrote:

I'm currently re-doing an area where the hosta have been living for
nearly 10 years without being disturbed. There are layer upon layers of
crown before one get's to the actively growing area. I tend to
carefully peel back these layers instead of hacking them with a shovel
(sometimes I have to use a knife) and keeping as much of the roots
together.

Will these pieces of older crown that have been buried under the new
growth begin sprouting eyes again now that I've "liberated" them? -- or
will they remain forever dormant? It appears that they have all that is
needed to get going again, since they are no longer crowded out.

Indyrose

Hack em and move them about. Time to consider if the variety deserves
to live. Be ruthless and give pieces friends.

Bill who wonders where is that Northern Light hosta ?

--
S Jersey USA Zone 5 Shade
This article is posted under fair use rules in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, and is strictly for the educational
and informative purposes. This material is distributed without profit.

"Indyrose" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm currently re-doing an area where the hosta have been living for
nearly 10 years without being disturbed. There are layer upon layers of
crown before one get's to the actively growing area. I tend to
carefully peel back these layers instead of hacking them with a shovel
(sometimes I have to use a knife) and keeping as much of the roots
together.

Will these pieces of older crown that have been buried under the new
growth begin sprouting eyes again now that I've "liberated" them? -- or
will they remain forever dormant? It appears that they have all that is
needed to get going again, since they are no longer crowded out.

Indyrose


Seriously....do almost anything you want with them. You need nepalm to kill
an ancient hosta. They might not LOOK fabulous this year, but you will not
hurt them.

Indyrose I'm currently re-doing an area where the hosta have been living for
nearly 10 years without being disturbed. There are layer upon layers of
crown before one get's to the actively growing area. I tend to
carefully peel back these layers instead of hacking them with a shovel
(sometimes I have to use a knife) and keeping as much of the roots
together.

Will these pieces of older crown that have been buried under the new
growth begin sprouting eyes again now that I've "liberated" them? -- or
will they remain forever dormant? It appears that they have all that is
needed to get going again, since they are no longer crowded out.

Indyrose


a lot of people have different ways of dividing up hostas some use shovels,
picks, knives or whatever way they can to get them apart.
if u wish to keep most of your hosta for replanting dig a bit of distance away
from your plant this should enable u to get pretty well all of the root base.
then take your hosta and set it in a pan of water to soak, leave it there for
quite awhile overnight if need be. what u want to do is loosen the soil away from the roots.
once u have the soil all off of the roots u slowly start pulling the plant apart
bit by bit. this will enable u to get a lot of pieces of hosta to replant that would otherwise end up being destroyed.
the crown pieces can be replanted and will develop new growth as u have mentioned they are now liberated from all of the other growth. good luck with your hostas. cyaaaa, sockiescat.