The Ultimate Guide to How to Divide Foxglove: Expert Tips and Tricks

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) are a beloved garden staple, known for their striking, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in vibrant hues of purple, pink, white, and yellow. These stately plants add a touch of drama and elegance to any garden, but they can also become quite large and crowded over time. If you want to keep your foxgloves thriving and spread their beauty throughout your garden, learning how to divide foxglove is essential.

Why Divide Foxgloves?

Dividing foxgloves is a simple yet effective way to rejuvenate your plants and create new ones. Here are some key reasons why you should consider dividing your foxgloves:

• Promote Healthier Growth: Over time, foxgloves can become overcrowded, leading to competition for resources like water, nutrients, and sunlight. Dividing them allows each plant to have its own space to thrive, resulting in healthier, more vigorous growth.
• Control Spread: Foxgloves can be quite prolific self-seeders, sometimes spreading beyond their desired area. Dividing them helps to manage their spread and keep them under control.
• Create New Plants: Dividing foxgloves allows you to easily create new plants from the existing ones, expanding your garden with more of these beautiful flowers.
• Rejuvenate Old Plants: Older foxgloves may become leggy and less vigorous. Dividing them can help to rejuvenate them and encourage new growth.

The Best Time to Divide Foxgloves

The ideal time to divide foxgloves is in the early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. This is when the plants are actively growing and have the best chance of establishing themselves after being divided. However, you can also divide them in the fall after the flowers have faded and the plant has gone dormant.

Preparing for Division

Before you begin dividing your foxgloves, gather the following tools and supplies:

• Sharp Garden Trowel or Spade: This will be used to dig up the foxglove clumps.
• Gardening Gloves: These will protect your hands from the sharp leaves and roots.
• Pruning Shears: These will be used to trim any damaged or overgrown foliage.
• New Planting Location: Choose a well-drained location with partial shade to full sun.
• Soil Amendment: A good quality potting mix or compost will help to improve the soil and provide nutrients for the newly divided plants.

Steps for Dividing Foxgloves

Now, let’s walk through the step-by-step process of dividing your foxgloves:

1. Choose a Healthy Plant: Select a foxglove clump that is at least two years old and has healthy foliage. Avoid dividing plants that are stressed or diseased.
2. Dig Around the Clump: Carefully dig around the foxglove clump using your garden trowel or spade, ensuring that you leave a good amount of space around the roots.
3. Lift the Clump: Once you have dug around the clump, gently lift it out of the ground, being careful not to damage the roots.
4. Divide the Clump: Using your hands or a sharp knife, carefully divide the clump into smaller sections, each with several healthy roots and shoots. Make sure each section has a good root system and at least one strong shoot.
5. Prepare the New Planting Locations: Prepare the new planting locations by digging holes that are slightly larger than the root balls of the divided sections.
6. Plant the Divided Sections: Place the divided sections into their new planting holes, ensuring that the roots are spread out and the crown of the plant is at or slightly above ground level.
7. Water Thoroughly: Water the newly planted foxgloves thoroughly to help them establish themselves.
8. Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Aftercare for Divided Foxgloves

After dividing your foxgloves, it’s important to provide them with the proper care to help them recover and thrive in their new locations. Here are some tips for aftercare:

• Water Regularly: Water your newly divided foxgloves regularly, especially during dry periods, to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• Fertilize: Apply a balanced fertilizer a few weeks after planting to help the plants establish themselves.
• Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and address any problems promptly.
• Deadhead Spent Flowers: Regularly deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent self-seeding.

Enjoy Your Newly Divided Foxgloves

With a little care and attention, your newly divided foxgloves will flourish and continue to brighten your garden for years to come. You can now enjoy the beauty of these stately plants in multiple locations, creating a stunning display of vibrant colors and textures.

Foxglove Division: A New Beginning

Dividing foxgloves is a rewarding experience that allows you to propagate these beautiful plants and expand their presence in your garden. By following these simple steps, you can easily rejuvenate your existing foxgloves, create new plants, and enjoy the stunning spectacle of their blooms for years to come.

Questions You May Have

1. How often should I divide my foxgloves?

You can typically divide foxgloves every 2-3 years, depending on the size and growth rate of the plant. If the clump becomes overcrowded, you may need to divide it sooner.

2. Can I divide foxgloves in the summer?

While it’s best to divide foxgloves in the spring or fall, you can do it in the summer if necessary. However, it’s important to water the newly divided plants thoroughly and provide them with shade during the hottest part of the day to help them establish themselves.

3. What if my divided foxgloves don‘t bloom the following year?

It’s not uncommon for divided foxgloves to skip a year of blooming. This is because they are using their energy to establish their new root system. They should bloom again the following year.

4. Can I divide foxgloves by seed?

Yes, you can propagate foxgloves from seed. However, it’s important to note that foxgloves grown from seed may not be true to the parent plant‘s characteristics.

5. Are foxgloves poisonous?

Yes, all parts of the foxglove plant are poisonous to humans and animals. It’s important to keep them out of reach of children and pets.