How to Split Hostas (When you Know Nothing about Hostas)

Just one of the four big hostas taking over my garden

When we bought this house three years ago, I loved it immediately. I loved the spacious back yard, and the attractive front garden of hostas.

Well, over time, those hostas a)got boring and b) got WAY too big. Heck, nobody told me you were supposed to spit (cut up) your hostas to keep them looking good and in a nice size/shape.

To beat it all, these hostas were the big, boring green kind, not the nice white-and-green kind.

Finally, this year, deciding I didn't want those monsters guarding the front of my house any longer, and armed with a heavy spade and the knowledge that I, indeed, had to split the hostas, I set to work.

Digging and chopping with the spade

Now, hosta plants are VERY hardy. I know everyone says you need to split them in spring, but actually, I did mine in summer. Spring would be better for a few reasons - the hostas can grow again that very summer, looking nice. But if you miss out on the spring because you're busy, do it any time of year!

1. I grabbed my spade, and started from the edges, digging and then pushing the spade into the middle of the plant to cut pieces out. 
2. Some of the roots were really stubborn and thick, so I used a small saw as well as snippers to help with the tough parts. 
3. All the pieces I dug up became individual plants afterwards. It was sweaty work (since, hey, I was doing it in high summer heat!), but not difficult and well worth the effort. 

 I ended up with quite a few separate plants, and of course, I really didn't want them all. I put a few in bags at my curb with a sign, imploring my neighbors to help themselves. And so they did!

Other plants I transplanted into my back yard, along the back of the house where there was nothing before. It looks better now.

The transplanted plants are all a bit floppy, unhealthy looking this year, but next year they will grow back as nice, small hostas!

Oh, and I totally transformed the front garden - no more green hosta at all. I put in flowers, and some cucumber hostas ;~)