Q: Our HOA is sponsoring a plant swap in a few weeks. People can dig up plants in their gardens or divide houseplants. Do you have any tips for the proper way to prepare the plants?
A: Let’s take the plant groups one at a time. First, the outdoor perennials: Most perennials rarely need dividing, but for many perennials, the fall is a good time to do it. As they go dormant for the winter, they store energy in the roots, rhizomes, or bulbs. The top of the plant needs little or no water over the winter. Start by watering the plants well a few days in advance of digging them up. This makes the soil easier to dig in and gives the plant water that it won’t be able to get when the roots are cut up.
