How to Divide Montauk Daisies

Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), hardy in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, brings flowers to the garden when much of summer's color has vanished. This fall bloomer forms mounds 2 to 3 feet in height and width, with white-petaled, yellow-centered daisy flowers appearing approximately four weeks before the first frost. To keep Montauks blooming abundantly, you need to divide plant clumps every three to four years.

Work gloves
Spade
Spading fork
Small drop cloth, garbage bag or newspapers
3- to 5-gallon bucket
Water
Hand fork or narrow trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a hole around the plant's root ball in early spring, two to four weeks after the last frost. Since your plant still may be dormant at this time, dig the hole at least a foot larger than the outermost edge of the crown, to minimize root damage.
- 2
  Dig at least 6 inches down, then push the spade straight down, tipping it back toward you to pry the root ball loose. Go all the way around the root ball until you can lift, rather than pull, the plant out of the ground.
- 3
  Shake off loose soil, then put the plant into the bucket of water to rinse off more soil. This lets you see roots to separate them. If the root ball is too big for the bucket, push down on it with the spading fork to cut it in half or even in quarters if the clump is very large.
- 4
  Lay the root ball on the sheet, bag or newspapers. Separate the plant into clumps, working roots apart with the hand fork. Even a large root ball is best divided into no more than four clumps.
- 5
  Keep the new root clumps wet until you plant them. Keep the soil consistently moist until you see signs of new growth.

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