Right now is prime time for dividing your overgrown summer-flowering perennials, so don’t let this opportunity slip by! This weekend, my neighbors are getting together for a perennial exchange, so first thing Saturday morning, I’m going to thoroughly water the clumps I plan to divide. Then I’ll follow these three simple steps:

· First, I’ll cut all the top growth of the clumps back by half, and dig up the roots.
· Then I’ll gently tease or break the clumps apart, or cut them with a sharp knife or spade. I’ll make sure each new piece has at least one bud or stem and some roots. Then I’ll treat ‘em to my Dandy Division Tonic: 1 can of beer, ¼ cup of instant tea granules, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and 2 gallons of water mixed together in a 5-gallon bucket, letting the pieces soak for about 10 minutes or so.
· After the perennial exchange, I’ll plant the new divisions that I get from my neighbors into compost-enriched soil, and give ‘em all a good drink to settle things in. By next spring, they’ll be rarin’ to grow!

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