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Shasta daisies form clumps, so one plant can become several. Dividing them fills more beds and can mean more blooms next summer.

Division keeps blooms strong

Old clumps can crowd themselves until the middle thins out or dies. Splitting them every 2 to 3 years gives the healthy outer growth room, water and nutrients.

“Shasta daisies can get really sparse and crowded pretty quickly”

Pick mild weather

Divide in early spring as new growth appears, or in early fall after flowering. In fall, finish 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle.

Cut back first

After fall blooming, trim stems to about six inches before digging. Clean, sharp pruners reduce damage and make the clump easier to handle.

Water before digging

If the soil is dry, water the plant the day before division. Moist soil helps the clump lift with less stress on the roots.

Lift the whole clump

Dig around the outside with a fork or spade, staying away from the crown. Lift the entire plant instead of chopping blindly into the middle.

“Then, lift the entire clump out of the ground”

Expose the crowns

Brush soil from the roots so you can see the separate crowns. Smaller clumps may pull apart by hand.

Cut only if needed

Use a clean spade or garden knife only when the clump will not separate by hand. Keep sections with healthy shoots and strong roots, and discard weak, woody or diseased parts.

“use that as a last resort”

Replant at old depth

Set each division at the same depth it grew before, usually with holes around 5 to 8 inches deep. Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart so they can fill out next summer.

Mulch, then hold back

Water well after planting and add a light mulch layer without covering the crown. After that, water only when the top soil dries, since Shasta daisies hate waterlogged roots.

“they do not like being waterlogged”