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Gardening

Splitting Agapanthus

(12 Posts)
tanith Sat 14-Sep-19 12:27:35

I’ve had a nice potful of Agapanthus for a few years but this year no flowers. So I decided to split it some in the garden and a new pot.
I’ve got it out of the pot but I’m damned if I can split it, I’ve tried with garden forks, then prising out some soil with a hand fork but it’s still being very stubborn. I was going to try with a large knife but I don’t think I have the strength to cut through it.

Any suggestions from you lovely gardeners.

Resurgam123 Thu 19-Sep-19 00:06:08

Have you thought of sawing through it?
Just thinking now, I think they do have very thick roots after a few years. Mine have been in their pots of one heck of a long while.
I was of thinking of repotting or rejuvenating my.
(Perhaps I need a chain saw. )
I have certainly been thinking of splittiing mine up. .
I think there is another Agapanthus thread some where on this thread for this year.

tanith Thu 19-Sep-19 08:50:49

I finally managed to split it no 4 with an old chisel and brute force but thanks for that advice I just hope the pieces survive.

shysal Thu 19-Sep-19 11:04:22

I saw a chainsaw recommended on a Youtube video.
I bought a mature broad-leaved Agapanthus earlier this year by mail order. Two flowers were damaged in transit and I have only had one healthy bloom since. I can't decide whether it is hideous or beautiful! It is a bit like a granny's Aspidistra! It will need dividing within the next year or two, but do I really want more plants? I might buy some of the smaller, hardier ones instead.

EllanVannin Thu 19-Sep-19 13:00:01

Strange plant. I had 5 flowers on it last year but only 3 this year, 1 of which my GGD pulled off, so two lonely ones among a pile of its leaves.

This has actually done well as I bought it from Jersey many years ago.

tanith Sat 28-Sep-19 18:27:58

I’ve transplanted them and all four pieces seem to be doing ok

Resurgam123 Mon 20-Jan-20 23:56:09

I have split up mine and they seem to be Ok
I have put them in my "Wendy house" to keep them out of frost.
They seem to be OK.

KitKatt Mon 03-Feb-20 10:13:53

Strange plant indeed. I guess I saw a similar one at my aunt's backyard. Never had any luck with those in my garden though...
By the way, what chainsaw was that? wink Your post just reminded me that I need one maybe like one of these, especially if that's going to be a pole saw.

Apricity Mon 03-Feb-20 11:16:54

Try a decent sized screwdriver. I was given this tip recently by a very experienced gardener and have found it to be very useful. You insert the screwdriver between the roots and corms, wriggle it around to loosen them with minimal damage to the plant. Agapanthus are very tough plants and will survive pretty rough treatment.

BlueBelle Mon 03-Feb-20 11:20:44

I had quite a few then last year I realised I only had one up and flowering funny how things disappear sometimes without you realising

gillybob Mon 03-Feb-20 12:20:48

I managed to split one of mine using an old bread knife in a kind of sawing action Tanith .

Doodle Mon 03-Feb-20 13:23:31

Is that like split infinitives tanith ?. Sorry can’t help, not a gardener. From the replies above I image you will need some muscle.