Dividing a Lady’s Mantle Plant
Lady’s mantle plants were once used for medicinal purposes, but today they are mostly grown for their attractive flowers and growth patterns. Their thin stems produce large, beautiful clusters of tiny yellow flowers that are often so heavy they cause the stems to bow down slightly under their weight. This makes for a lovely mound of bright flowers that stand out against a green backdrop. The plant is a perennial down to USDA zone 3, which means winters have to get awfully cold to kill them. It also self-seeds in the autumn, which means a single plant will spread out into a patch after a few years of growth. This spread can be prevented by rigorous deadheading or removal of seed pods. Even if you prevent self-seeding, however, a single plant will eventually get too big. Lady’s mantle division is recommended every three to ten years, depending upon the size of the plant.
How to Divide a Lady’s Mantle Plant
Separating lady’s mantle plants is very easy, and the plants take to division and transplant well. The best time for dividing a lady’s mantle plant is spring or late summer. Simply dig the entire plant up with a shovel. With a sharp knife or spade, split the root ball into three equally sized pieces. Make sure there is a good amount of vegetation attached to each part. Immediately plant these pieces in new spots and water thoroughly. Keep watering regularly and deeply for the rest of the growing season to help it get established.
