Q: The snowdrops in my garden have grown into lovely big clumps that I’d like to divide and share with family and friends. Is this a good time of year to do it, or would I be better waiting until autumn?
Mary Corcoran, Cork
A: This ultra-hardy, resilient bulbous perennial is one of the earliest plants to flower, lighting up the garden in January-February (sometimes as early as November, depending on the particular species). Properly known as Galanthus, several species are grown in Irish gardens, most of which typically thrive in a cool, humus-rich, moist but free-draining soil beneath the seasonal shade of deciduous plants where they can enjoy direct sunshine when in flower. Over time, the individual bulbs then slowly multiply or “clump up” like yours have, resulting in large clumps that can eventually be divided and replanted.
Traditionally, snowdrops are best divided “in the green”, meaning shortly after they’ve finished flowering, but before their thin, strappy leaves have begun to yellow and die back. The reasons for this are various, but they include the fact that the bulbs are easily identified in the ground at this stage of the plants’ growth cycle, while cool, damp soil conditions favourable to quick re-establishment of their root systems are also much more likely to occur in spring. This window of opportunity typically runs from February to mid-April, so there’s still just enough time if you act quickly.
As you mention, autumn is also a good time to plant snowdrop bulbs, although not “in the green”, as by then their foliage will have died back down to the ground because of summer dormancy. In this case, you’ll need to make sure that soil conditions are moist enough to support root establishment, which will probably mean delaying dividing and replanting them until late autumn. This in turn may have consequences for the plants in terms of them re-establishing strong, vigorous root systems in sufficient time to support a good flowering display the following January-February.
[ Snowdrops arrive with impeccable timing to save us from winter desolationOpens in new window ]
To divide a large, established clump, use a garden fork or spade to gently dig it out of the ground, careful working around the edges of the clump to gradually loosen the bulbs’ root systems from the soil. Then use your hands to gently prise away small clumps of 4-5 bulbs (snowdrops like company).
These need to be replanted or potted up as soon as possible to boost their chances of successfully re-establishing and to prevent their vulnerable root systems from drying out. Always replant the bulbs to the same depth at which they were originally growing, which is typically about 10cm-12cm. Immediately after planting, water them very well. It’s also a good idea to label any newly planted clumps to avoid subsequently accidentally damaging them with a lawnmower or by digging.
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