How to Harvest a Division From My Chives

Spread the tarp on the ground near the growing location of the chives.

Insert the tip of the shovel into the soil about 6 inches away from the outside of the chive clump, and push it into the soil firmly. Continue moving the shovel around the chives and pushing the blade into the soil to loosen the chives completely.

Lift the chives clump out of the soil with the shovel and transfer it to the tarp.

Shake off the excess soil from the roots of the chives.

Examine the clump for any roots that appear unhealthy or decayed. Pull these portions of the roots away with your hands or cut through the roots with the blade of the hand trowel. Discard these roots.

Divide the remaining chives clump in half or in thirds by pushing the hand trowel through the roots.

Replant the chives clump in the soil at the same depth that it was previously growing, spacing the chives about 6 inches apart.

Water the chives thoroughly immediately after you replant them. Keep the chives evenly moist for about three weeks while they recover from the division.

Allow the chives to grow without harvesting for about three weeks after dividing. After this time elapses, harvest the chives freely.