Have you ever wondered about the bundles of bamboo stems you see for sale just about everywhere, from novelty stores to warehouse clubs?They’re called “lucky bamboo,” and despite their ubiquitous presen
06.06.2023 - 21:19 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller
When and How to Divide Lily of the ValleyLily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, is an herbaceous flowering perennial in the asparagus family.
It grows from a rhizome and thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 9. Native to Europe and Asia, its dainty bell-shaped pink or white blossoms are a fragrant delight in the spring garden.
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C. majalis is a vigorous grower that spreads via runner roots and self-sowing. It has invasive tendencies and often jumps garden borders as it readily naturalizes in partly to fully shaded locations.
Our guide to growing lily of the valley has all you need to know about cultivation.
In this article, we talk about dividing plants to keep up with their aggressive growth.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Let’s get started!
Why Divide Lily of the Valley?With a fast-growing perennial that voraciously consumes garden real estate, the need to divide periodically, a process also known as splitting, is to be expected.
Many folks take on this task every three to five years, but this is not a hard and fast rule. When lily of the valley begins to hop the garden border and cruise into the lawn, you’ll want to take action.
In addition to removing plants that escape boundaries, overcrowded patches tend to bloom poorly. Thinning them out is rejuvenating and supports healthy new roots, foliage, and flowers.
Let’s talk about the best time for splitting plants.
Act While They Are SleepingLily of the valley foliage remains green from spring to fall, creating a lush ground cover in the shadiest portions of the landscape.
As the growing season draws to a close, the green foliage shades to brown, and red fruits form, wither,
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