One other gardening undertaking on the schedule for fall’s cool days is the division of long-standing clumps of Agapanthus.
The genus Agapanthus consists of six to 10 species, all of that are native to South Africa. The widespread identify, “Lily of the Nile,” is deceptive, because the River Nile is in Africa’s northern area. The plant is broadly grown on the planet, and there are quite a few varieties, together with pure alternatives and hybrid cultivars.
After I moved to my present residence 4 many years in the past, the backyard included a big part of Agapanthus, which had been spreading for a few years. I noticed the clump as extra an issue than an asset. A good friend volunteered to uproot the clump along with his Bobcat (an grownup toy). The burdensome work was completed in a short while, leaving solely the hauling activity.
On the time, I regarded the Agapanthus as a standard plant, nearly weed-like. In reality, this can be a fascinating addition for the backyard, offering good peak, glorious foliage and blossoms, and straightforward care. I ultimately appreciated the plant.
This Agapanthus grows evergreen and effectively within the Bay Space’s Mediterranean local weather. There are some dwarf hybrids, e.g. “Tinkerbell,” however most varieties develop luxurious inexperienced foliage in clumps 2-to-3 ft tall and broad, with flower spikes rising 3-to-4 ft excessive, producing engaging shows. The lengthy bloom interval ranges from June to October, relying on the range.
Agapanthus vegetation develop readily in well-drained soil and full solar. As soon as established, they’re sturdy growers, requiring little irrigation or care, though annual mulching with well-aged compost will assist wholesome growth and beneficiant blooming.
Clumps of this plant grow to be bigger annually and needs to be divided each four-to-six years to keep away from congestion (diminished blooms). They are often replanted as a swath or separate options within the backyard, or shared with different gardeners.
There are three Agapanthus varieties rising carefully collectively inside my South African perennial mattress, offering attention-grabbing blossom colour comparisons.
A. praecox ssp orientalis ‘Getty White’ (white)
A. orientalis spp. orientalis (unlisted selection)(medium blue)
A. africanus x pendulus ‘Storm Cloud’ (darkish blue)
After they completed blooming in October, we minimize the flower stalks low. We may have left the seed heads on show and as hen meals.
We then determined to divide the clumps, which had been within the floor for greater than six years. That’s a very good observe to be executed in Autumn, however the problem now’s to maintain the varieties separate. It may be tough to establish vegetation with comparable varieties when they’re out of bloom.
This expertise justifies photographic documentation of the backyard, even when the plant names are recognized and maybe even famous on a backyard map or plant record. That’s one other decision for the brand new 12 months.
Dividing Agapanthus clumps begins by lifting the clumps, which might be massive and heavy. This may be executed greatest by trenching across the clump, pushing a flat spade underneath the clump, and lifting at a number of places across the clump. Then, roll the clump out of the mattress and onto a flat space.
The plant grows from rhizomes, that are largely underground, serving as storage organs. Thick, white, fleshy roots develop out of the rhizomes.
As soon as the clump is out of the bottom, the rhizomes and roots might be divided with a pointy spade, taking care that every part has at the very least two rising factors. With bigger clumps, dividing might be best utilizing two backyard forks back-to-back.
Dividing is the laborious half; replanting is comparatively simple, as lengthy area is accessible with full solar publicity and well-drained soil. If my new swath of vegetation has randomly combined blossom colours, that could possibly be a function fairly than a bug.
Hopefully, we may have extra seasonal rains through the subsequent few months; common watering within the spring would assist the vegetation to ascertain.
Tom Karwin is previous president of Mates of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society.
