dividing crocosmia

Could someone help please-I have 2 large clumps of crocosmia and want to divide them into 4 or 5 smaller clumps. I've read that I can do this but don't know how -sorry to sound stupid but can I just split each clump with a spade or is there more to it than that, also is it ok to do it now. Any advice much appreciated, thanks

 

Hi barneyb. Crocosmia is a great survivor. I think you could use anything - chain-saw, ax, JCB, and they would still thrive.

I understand that each year they produce a new corm on top of the old one to produce the chain that wiseoldowl mentioned. Does this mean that by counting the number of corms in the chain it tells you how old the plant is - like tree rings? And are the older lower corms still viable if you break them off and plant them up seperately? And what are these older lower corms doing all summer, a long chain of corms doesn't seem to produce a bigger better plant after about the first year - or does it?

 

I have moved crocosmia and have now got them everywhere - just when you think you have moved them to a different place, corms that were overlooked at the bottom of the chain regrow in the original position.

 

LOL - I got my crocosmia from a guy who started my garden off for me. He had been to another client about 3-4 days before and pulled up heaps of the stuff she didn't want and hadn't yet got around to taking them to the dump. As I was just starting with my garden, he asked if I'd like some. I jumped at the chance. So they were dumped at the bottom of my garden where I just threw some spare soil over them to stop the drying out. I planted them eventually and then replanted them elsewhere. Each time without looking up any 'how to's'. I just yanked them out and stuck them in again.

Right now - 7 years on - I am now looking to pull some up and chuck them on the compost .... anybody want some nice corcosmia corms?

 

I agree with peters. I have a boundary full of the blighters. they have been dug out, cut down, sprayed with very strong weedkiller, neat! and they still come. They are classed as a weed in my area by some of my customers and infact, down by the coast,the rabbits love the new shoots, and that still doesnt kill them. I hate them nearly as much as i hate dock. But dock is controllable compared to crocs.
MMD...........No ta! got 30' x 3' of the little gits.

 

Thanks everyone, if the rain ever stops I'll get digging- Will let you know how it goes though from sound of it even I won't be able to kill them by accident!

 

Like Compostee, no thanks, MMD! Got some of Blackthorn's!! :D

I like them very much, particularly Lucifer - but I' like to keep space in my garden for a few other plants too! :rolleyes: