Coneflowers, also known as echinacea, are bright, colorful perennial plants of the daisy family that bloom in the summer thanks to their tolerance to heat and dry weather.Similar to common daisies, they are great gifts and garden additions.They should be divided every 3 to 4 years to keep them healthy and growing.The entire process consists of preparation, division, and planting.
Step 1: In the spring or late fall, divide your coneflowers.
The plants have yet to bloom, so planting in the early spring is ideal.Conducting division during these months will minimize damage to the plant.coneflowers are in bloom in summer so it's not an ideal time to divide them.They are putting a lot of energy into flower production and less on roots, making them more vulnerable.If you have to divide in the summer, do it on a cloudy day and cut back flower heads.After division, keep your plants watered and screen them from the sun for 2 to 3 weeks using mesh netting or another kind of screen.
Step 2: Pick the planting location for your coneflower divisions.
Before planting flowers in your garden, you should determine the general location.Coneflowers grow best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.If you're dividing your coneflowers from a pot into a garden, make sure the new holes are twice the pot's diameter.
Step 3: You should loosen the soil to give room for the roots.
Prepare the soil in your yard.To loosen the soil, use a garden fork or tiller.Sand can loosen the soil.
Step 4: Prepare your soil for planting by layering it with organic plant matter.
Throw down a 2 to 4 inch layer of organic plant matter to make sure your plants get the proper nutrition.The plant matter should make up 25% of the soil's volume.Pull a small amount of soil into a ball.It's too wet if it doesn't fall apart.If your soil is dry, you can add another 20 to 25 percent of the material that is moist.To improve drainage, mix in 20 to 25 percent horticulture sand.New root growth can be encouraged by mixing in bone meal.
Step 5: Using a pointed shovel, dig a circle around the plant.
Follow the line.This is the area where water drips from the leaves onto the ground.Pull the roots out of the clump by digging deep into the soil.
Step 6: The cone flower's roots can be loosened with the tip of a shovel.
Attach the tip of your shovel to the trench and gently remove the flower's root system.If you keep doing this around the coneflower's circumference, you will be able to loosen the roots and get rid of the clump.Water the soil 2 to 3 days before you uproots it.
Step 7: Use a garden fork or shovel to push the coneflower clump out of the ground.
Put your shovel or garden fork under the rootball.Continue to loosen the ball by levering it up and down.Lift the shovel or garden fork to remove the clump.It's important to keep the root system intact.
Step 8: The cone flower's roots have some soil remaining.
The soil that is caked onto the roots of the plant can be removed with your hands or a garden hose.Try not to damage the roots.Remove soggy, slimy, or discolored roots from the rootball if you find them.
Step 9: Pull apart the roots of your cone flower.
When the coneflowers roots are exposed, look for the least dense spots.Pulling the coneflower apart with your hands is possible because it has a spreading root system.Don't disrupt the roots unnecessarily.
Step 10: Use pitchforks to pry the roots apart.
Put the pitchforks in the rootball.Slowly draw the handles away from each other.When you have the amount of pieces you want, repeat this technique.
Step 11: If the coneflower has a dense root system that can't be pulled apart with your hands or pitchforks, use a sharp spade to divide it.
Put the rootball on its side and place the spade in the center of its crown.The crown should be split in half.Continue splitting until you get what you need.Flat spades are not as effective for cutting roots.Don't divide for the sake of fighting.Gaining 3 or 4 healthy plants is better than 5 or 6 dead ones.If you don't have enough space in your garden, you can make them smaller.
Step 12: The coneflower's root mass needs to be trimmed back to give it room to grow.
One-third of the divided plants' root mass should be trimmed after division.New, fresh roots will be sent out from the plant room.They will be better organized in their new location than the ones they are succeeding.You can trim the top of the flower to encourage root growth.The top will die following division.
Step 13: If you don't want to divide your flowers in your garden, prepare a pot.
You can divide your coneflowers into containers or pots if you don't have enough room in your garden.Make sure they are large enough to fit their original depth.To keep air pockets from drying out, fill the pot or container with firm soil around the roots and water them well.Use pots and containers that have drainage holes.They need to be 2 to 3 gallons.The bottom should be lined with 2 to 3 inches of crushed gravel.
Step 14: If you're dividing your cone flower divisions in your yard, dig a new hole.
A hole around twice the width of the rootball can be created using a shovel.It should be the same as the original plant's root size from the base to the crown.If you want to maximize your plant's survival, dig deeper by 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) and fill it with soil.Straight root growth is promoted by double digging, which loosens the soil below the rootball.The soil should be kept level with the rootball.
Step 15: Immediately after division, plant the coneflowers in the ground.
To conserve water, place the coneflower in the hole and cover its root system with soil.Continue to water the plant to help it grow.The soil should be moist for the next two weeks.
Step 16: It's a good idea to mulch your newly planted coneflowers.
Don't bury your coneflowers if you add mulch to them.The gardens that are mulched have fewer weeds than those that aren't.