The calendar says holiday season, but your warm-zone soil whispers “opportunity.” While most people opt for peppermint lattes and sensible knitwear, we know better.
December arrives, and with it the perfect moment for advanced garden ops: dividing perennials. It’s the ultimate BOGO event of the season. So stop rooting around for holiday savings. The biggest bargain of the season is hiding right beneath your boots.
Quick reminder: these December divisions only work if your soil is still workable and above about 40°F (4°C)! If the ground is frozen solid, save the digging for spring.
Operation Divide (Perennials) and Conquer
If your mild winter refuses to freeze the ground, December means only one thing: free plants. Overgrown perennial clumps are begging to be separated, so who are you to deny them?
If you’re doing December garden work already, you might also like my guide to the perennials you can still move before winter hits.
1: Hosta (Zones 7-10)
If you possess shade, you possess Hosta. They spread everywhere. They’re also remarkably resilient when dormant, which makes them fair game for December target practice. Besides, dividing hostas is necessary every few years if you wish to keep their unique leaves large and lush.
The crown is dense, so bring a sharp industrial spade and brute force, as only a strong tug or a quick chop can liberate the root masses.
Dig wide around the clump and always ensure that every new piece has a visible bud (the ‘eye’) for future growth. Once you plant each new section, water the babies immediately.
If you want to see exactly how to divide yours, we put together a simple fall guide to dividing hostas that walks through every step.
2: Daylily (Zones 7-10)
Despite the name, Daylilies are far tougher. Their dense root structure forms thick, fleshy roots, packing a lunch for their next move. And they do need it! Daylilies multiply faster than gossip in my town.
Division becomes necessary roughly every three to five years. You’ll know the time is right when the clump looks like a leafy doughnut, meaning the middle section has died.
Digging the entire, enormous thing up often requires savage tearing and yanking the thick roots apart into multiple smaller pieces. Since the plants are dormant, December is the perfect low-stress time for this exercise in separation anxiety.
Skip the shovel altogether. A pitchfork is far superior in separating the tangled roots. Next, plant the new fans immediately. Water them to settle the soil. Water yourself to settle your nerves.
Quick tip: I’ve found they reestablish faster if you trim the leaves down to about 6-8 inches before replanting. It reduces stress and helps the roots take hold quicker during winter.
If you garden around bulb beds, you may also want our bulb guide on what to lift before winter and what can safely stay in the soil.
3: Astilbe (Zones 7-9)
Anyone who recommends gentle handling for Astilbe has not met its knotty crown. Every few years, when the plant shows signs of exhaustion, dig the whole stubborn plant up.
You must use a sharp tool (maybe a power saw, a Viking axe, or maybe just a very strong shovel) and divide the hard crown like you mean it.
Just like with Hostas, ensure every new division holds a prominent, intact, waiting bud before slicing. Those buds are your guarantee for abundant flowers.
Quick tip: Astilbe roots hate drying out. After dividing, plant the pieces into moist soil and add a light layer of mulch, this keeps the roots protected and helps them settle in fast.
And since fresh divisions appreciate a bit of insulation, here’s our guide to which plants you should mulch before winter and which ones you shouldn’t.
4: Cranesbill (Zones 7-10)
The Hardy Geranium is constantly trying to take over the planet, one square foot at a time. But unlike the messy division of other root masses, you only need to harvest sections from the outer edges of the mother clump. No need to excavate the entire plant!
Simply slice generous pieces from the perimeter using a clean spade.
Hardy Geranium roots easily, which guarantees you quick success in sunny or shaded spots. It also means that division now is less about plant health and more about necessary population control.
Quick tip: From experience, Cranesbill settles in faster if you trim back any long, leggy stems before replanting. It lets the roots focus on establishing instead of supporting winter foliage.
5: Shasta Daisy (Zones 7-10)
This is the reliable plant every garden needs, but even icons get cramped. Shasta Daisies are terrific bloomers, yet they require regular renewal to maintain their large, white flowers in summer.
Their division is an efficient December work because the plant is completely dormant. The clear sign for action is that notorious “dead zone” in the middle.
Simply chop out the vigorous edges, toss the rotting center to the compost heap, and water new divisions immediately after replanting. Voila! You just bought yourself thousands of guaranteed sunny Shasta days.
And while you’re in cleanup mode, my December cut-back guide helps you see which plants should be trimmed now and which ones are better left standing.
6: Liriope (Zones 7-10)
Lilyturf (neither truly a grass nor a lily) is indeed a contradiction: zero effort 99% of the time, and high effort when you try to move it!
The fibrous nature of its roots forms dense clumps that stubbornly resist the spade and force you to dig wide and deep. It makes digging a serious chore for the underprepared.
Luckily, the quickest way to separate the root mass requires brainpower, not brawn. Once you extract the clump, grab your hose. Give the root ball a powerful blast of water, washing the dirt away.
Spray dissolves the dirt, and the grass divides into perfect little fans, ready for immediate replanting along borders. Lilyturf seems to be the only perennial that demands a clean break.
And before you wrap up your winter prep, here’s my quick guide to which plants still benefit from a last feeding before winter and which ones you should skip.
Bottoms Up, Roots Down
You are officially the smartest neighbor on the block. You multiplied your plants while everyone else wrapped generic gifts. Now all your new December babies need is a layer of mulch and you a swig of mulled… wine.
If you’ve got tender shrubs nearby, our winter-protection guide shows exactly which shrubs need wrapping before the cold sets in.
