Market-rate housing project coming to Worthington
Kuepers
Construction plans to construct two apartment buildings this summer, with land for three more buildings
BY SAMUEL MARTIN
The Globe
WORTHINGTON — Worthington is one step closer to achieving its comprehensive plan as Kuepers Construction will begin construction this summer on two apartment buildings along the south edge of town. The development will be called South Shore Apartments.
Based in Brainerd, the familydeveloped construction company will construct two 38-unit apartment buildings to house a combination of studio, one bedroom and two bedroom units. The buildings will be located on a parcel west of Plotts Avenue and north of U.S. 59/Minnesota 60. The project will have an estimated completion date of August-September 2026. Also included in the project is the construction of a new street, East Flower Lane, and outdoor apartment amenities including a pickleball court and a playground.
Steve Kuepers, president of construction for Kuepers Construction, said the company approached the city of Worthington with the project.
Contributed / Matt Selof
The top trending paint projects of the year to tackle at home
StatePoint — Need fresh ideas and practical tips to elevate your home’s interiors?
Backed by in-depth research, FrogTape brand painter’s tape’s “What's Trending” report reveals the top projects on DIYers’ wish lists, as well as how fixer-uppers of all skill levels can bring these emerging projects to life:
Furniture Flips: Nearly 80% of DIYers say they’re considering upcycling old furniture with a little paint within the next year.
Creative Cabinets: Painting kitchen or bathroom cabinets? Use a low-adhesion, premium painter’s tape. A great choice is FrogTape Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape. Its exclusive PaintBlock Technology seals tape edges and blocks paint bleed for sharp paint lines, and was specially designed to prevent damage on freshly-painted surfaces.
Color Drenching: Creating a canopy of one rich, deep hue across an entire room — including walls, trim and even the ceiling — is among the year’s most sought-after
painting projects. Use drop cloths or paint tarps to protect flooring and furniture, and FrogTape Multi-Surface painter’s tape to separate areas and ensure sharp lines.
Touches of Texture: Homeowners are making interiors feel warm and welcoming by adding depth and dimension to walls, accent furniture and fireplaces. Another emerging technique is applying limewash paint — a mixture of crushed limestone and natural pigments — for a texturized, moody finish.
Nature-Inspired Murals and Faux Wallpaper: Whether it’s hand-drawn organic shapes or botanical brushstrokes, DIYers are favoring nature-inspired elements to make walls pop. Consider using painter’s tape or stencils to gain confidence in your design.
For more inspiration and tips, visit FrogTape.com.
No matter which project you undertake, the right painter’s tape can help you realize your beautiful, on-trend vision.
Painting ideas to breathe new life into furniture, walls.
Spring means remodeling projects for local homeowners
BY SAMUEL MARTIN The Globe
WORTHINGTON — With spring cleaning also often comes spring home remodeling. For home remodeling businesses in the area, there has been a noticeable spike in business as spring weather arrives.
Hometown Floors and More
Tyler Stugelmeyer, one of Hometown Floors and More’s founders and owners, said their new store is very busy helping customers not just from Worthington, but for homeowners in communities around Lake Shetek in Murray County as well.
“These first few weeks have been very busy. We have a lot of really good feedback,” Stugelmeyer said. “We're doing quite a bit of business in town so far these first few weeks of opening, so it's been very, very good. I don't think we anticipated it being as busy as it has been these first few weeks, so we're very, very thankful for the receptiveness that we've gotten from all of the local community and all the people that have stopped out to check out the store and see our pricings and our quality of product.”
Just as the seasons change, so do home remodeling trends.
REMODELING: 8
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Dreamscomeinmanyshapesandsizes.ShowplaceCabinetryismadeinAmericabyemployeeownerswhotakegreatprideineverycabinettheycraftforyou.Yourcreativechoicesarenearly unlimited,andit’sallbackbytheassuranceofalifetimewarranty.Callustolearnmoreabout howwecanhelpyourealizeyourdream.Opportunitieslikethiswon’tlastlong,sostopintoday!
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Contributed / Tyler Stugelmeyer
The spring season has kept Hometown Floors and More busy as they've regularly been installing vinyl plank flooring, tiles, onyx shower bases and
HOUSING
CONTINUED FROM 1
“Worthington just made sense,” Kuepers said. “I'd driven through multiple times in my travels down to Sioux City, Iowa, and I think I was sitting at the gas station for about the fourth time filling up my car with gas and looking at that field and thinking that it's amazingly close to downtown Worthington right where it's at. When they reconfigured the road, it just made sense. It just kinda organically came over the course of three or four years."
Kuepers said their company had the land under a purchase agreement before talking with the city.
"We contacted them after we'd already done some preliminary plans and worked on it," he shared. "I would say they were pleasantly surprised and the city had just updated its comprehensive plan not too long ago. It was kinda meant to be, I would say. I think they're pretty happy that we (will proceed with the project) and we're happy that they're happy they want us.”
Kuepers said while the plans aren’t completely set in stone, there is potential on the site to construct two more apartment buildings, bringing the total number of units to 150, with the possibility of a fifth building.
City Planner Matt Selof said the addition of housing is more than welcomed in Worthington.
“It's nice to see the private market responding to the housing need here without the city really needing to step in and try to incentivize it,” Selof said. “The city is obviously still facing a shortage in other areas — starter homes, senior housing and things like that, but this certainly helps one of our biggest areas of need."
Selof said the two planned apartment buildings will "make a big dent" in the city's need for market rate rental housing.
Kuepers Construction and Architecture, of Brainerd, is proposing to construct apartment
Worthington. The developer has purchased this property west of Plotts Avenue, north of U.S. 59/Minnesota 60.
"It's nice to finally see a project that's really needed in the community come to fruition, especially without a lot of help from the city,” he said.
Kuepers agreed that such a project is long overdue for the community.
“It's gonna bring great options for market rate housing flexibility,” Kuepers said. “You're gonna have the ability for seniors to live in a place that's very nice and not have to worry about maintenance and other expenses. You're also gonna have young families moving into the area and they’ll have some options before they gotta dive in and buy a house or figure out where and what they wanna do for living arrangements.
"I just think there's gonna be a ton of flexibility, a kind of flexibility Worthington hasn’t had in a while," he added. "I think the city of Worthington's overdue.”
This conceptual design of South Shore Apartments shows both apartments and garages will be available. Construction on the market-rate apartment buildings will begin this summer.
Contributed / City of Worthington
I think I was sitting at the gas station for about the fourth time filling up my car with gas and looking at that field and thinking that it's amazingly close to downtown Worthington right where it's at.
Samuel Martin / The Globe
buildings on the south side of
Steve Kuepers, president of Kuepers Construction
5 easy steps to create your homebuying budget
StatePoint — One of the most important steps to take while house hunting is to create an intentional budget that accounts for both upfront costs and recurring expenses. Doing so will help you find a home that meets both your lifestyle needs and financial situation. Here’s how:
1. Assess what you can afford: A common way to generally estimate the price range of a home you can afford is to multiply your annual gross income (what you earn before taxes) by three to five, according to Fidelity. Understand that mortgage rates will have a big impact too. Lower rates can substantially increase your purchasing power. Lenders set an interest rate for each person based on several factors, such as credit score. A higher credit score could mean a lower interest rate or better loan term.
2. Account for upfront costs: When budgeting, account for these one-time upfront costs you’ll pay after your offer is accepted:
• T he down payment: This is typically between 5% and 20% of the home’s purchase price. However, qualified borrowers can put down as little as 3% with options such as Freddie Mac's Home Possible or HomeOne mortgages. Both require private
mortgage insurance, which is an additional expense to consider.
• Ear nest money deposit: Earnest money, also known as a good faith deposit, amounts to approximately 1% to 2% of the purchase price of the home and is a sum you submit with your offer to show the seller you’re serious. During closing,
the amount you pay in earnest money can be applied toward your down payment or closing costs.
• Home inspection: T he home inspection, which will be your responsibility, typically costs between $300 and $450, according to recent estimates from Rocket Mortgage, and will tell you about the home and its potential issues. Your realtor should be able to recommend several well-qualified inspectors.
• Closing costs: Closing costs are what you will pay to the people representing your purchase, such as your lender and real estate agent. Also known as settlement fees, closing costs typically amount to 2% to 5% of the purchase price, and you may be able to roll them into your loan. Work with your lender to find the approach that best fits your financial situation.
• Moving expenses: Whether you hire professional movers or DIY your move, online resources such as Realtor.com’s moving cost calculator can help you estimate potential costs. When hiring movers, get quotes to ensure you are getting a fair price and to avoid moving fraud.
3. Plan for ongoing expenses: Once you’re in the home, you’ll be responsible for making monthly payments. These may
include your mortgage principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance, escrow payments and homeowners association fees. Most lenders agree that you should spend no more than 30% of your gross monthly income on these expenses, though this number will depend on your financial situation. You’ll also need to save for regular maintenance expenses, such as appliance upkeep.
4. Leave room for flexibility: Be sure to factor in savings for repairs or replacements of big-ticket items, such as your roof or HVAC system. Such flexibility in your budget can also help you weather financial emergencies, such as job loss, illness and other unexpected circumstances.
5. Use tools to guide your decision: To help you answer the critical question of how much home you can afford, use Freddie Mac’s home affordability calculator found at myhome.freddiemac.com. This free online resource also offers a wealth of essential information to guide you at every stage of your home journey.
As you hunt for the home of your dreams, stay prepared and informed. One essential aspect of doing so is to set a realistic budget that accounts for the true costs of homeownership.
How to choose long-lived perennials
You know you’re a devoted gardener if, after all your gardening chores are done, you create more.
Many of us can relate to that statement; it seems we’re never “done” with our yardwork, but that’s the magic of gardening. In the perennial garden, for example, we’re always digging, dividing and adding more.
Perennial garden tasks become fewer, though, if we select types known for their longevity. Planting perennials that live for decades, or even centuries, reduces the work of replacing types that die sooner.
All perennials aren’t created equal. Some types are well-known for their long lives, with lifespans that rival the average human’s. An occasional dividing keeps them healthy and prolific.
Other perennial types are well worth incorporating into the flowerbed also, but
they don’t have the inherent ability to persist for decades, and require periodic total replacement.
Garden center shopping season is nearly here, and most of us find room for another perennial or two to add to the landscape or flowerbed. Long-lived perennial types are popular choices, as they create the dependable backbone of any perennial garden.
benefit from dividing every four or five
and that level of care will keep them growing
Here is a list of perennials well-known for their long lives.
• Peony: A staple in the flowerbeds of pioneers and homesteaders, there are well-documented peonies that
or when
were planted over a century ago, still thriving on Upper Midwest farmsteads. Peonies require several years to establish, but once in place, they enjoy long lives with occasional dividing every few decades or as needed.
Chris Flynn / The Forum Daylilies
years,
they become crowded,
almost eternally.
• Daylily: New hybrids enjoy glorious colors and much larger flower size than the old-fashioned invasive types nicknamed “ditch lilies.” Although they benefit from dividing every four or five years, or when they become crowded, such care will keep them growing almost eternally.
• Iris: Siberian types, with their narrower, sword-shaped leaves that form large clumps, are longerlived with less maintenance than their German Bearded Iris cousins. But the more common German Iris cultivars enjoy long lives if divided every three or four years, keeping them perpetually healthy.
• Gas Plant: Not only is this perennial long-lived, but it resents being disturbed, making it a good candidate for leaving in place for years to come. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary and rock solid, try gas plant.
• Hosta: A stable for shaded gardens and landscapes, a few types even perform well in sun. Available in a myriad of color shades and variegated patterns, they’ll last nearly forever, and can be divided as needed.
• Or namental grasses: Plant breeders have been prolific, developing cultivars of native grasses with enhanced qualities, while keeping their long-lived character. Locally owned garden centers offer a wider assortment than national chains.
• Sedum: Both upright and spreading types thrive in hot
sun and dry conditions.
• Ar uncus Goatsbeard: Native to North America, arching plumes of creamcolored flowers grace the plants by early summer. Amending the soil with generous amounts of organic matter will keep it happy for many years.
• Alchemilla Lady’s Mantle: Chartreuse flowers create interest on a carefree plant.
• Aconitum Monkshood: Named after the flower’s shape, colors included are purple, white, lavender and pink.
• Bleeding Hear t: Thriving in shade or part shade, they’ll live for decades, although they go partially dormant by mid-summer if they receive a certain amount of sunshine.
• Asclepias Milkweed: Made famous as a necessity to preserve the Monarch butterfly, once established milkweed and its cultivars will persist.
• Joe-pye Weed: Marketers should perhaps find another name that doesn’t include “weed,” because this native plant is a well-adapted feature addition to any perennial garden. The species can become quite tall, up to 6 feet high, but shorter cultivars are available.
• Giant Fleeceflower Persicaria: This underused perennial makes a dramatic tall backdrop for other perennials, and can grow to 6 feet high or more, with a width of 5 or 6 feet. The longlasting showy creamy white blossoms are borne in mid-summer on a plant that’s almost shrub-like in scale.
• Cimicifug a Bugbane: Although marketers should rename it, the
perennial with its spike-shaped flowers will last a quarter-century or more.
• Chelone T urtlehead: With interestingly shaped flowers in pink or white, this perennial will enjoy a long life, especially if the soil is amended with ample organic matter.
If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler, NDSU Extension-Cass County, at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu. Questions with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Common German Iris cultivars enjoy long lives if divided every three or four years.
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“A lot of people are starting to switch over to remodels. Instead of just the bedroom carpet here and there, maybe a little bit of vinyl planking in a new room or something, we're starting to see a lot more of whole home remodels with the nicer weather,” Stugelmeyer shared. “A lot of bathroom remodels are trending right now. We've done quite a few full bathroom remodels, which has been nice. We've been doing a lot of tile with in-floor heating on the floors, we've been taking out old tubs and showers and then putting in walk-in showers.
"People are also getting new kitchen cabinets and all of that stuff," he added. "We're coming in after the kitchen cabinets are being done, and we're putting vinyl planking throughout the whole entire house. We're seeing a trend of hard surfaces throughout the whole home. That kinda seems to be a lot of the trend. From what we've seen, luxury vinyl planks throughout the kitchen, dining rooms, living rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms have been kind of a trend that we're seeing in a lot of really light, neutral colors.”
A new leaf for the Fergusons
With their first child on the way, this spring seemed to be the perfect time for Mark and McKenzie Ferguson to breathe new life into their Worthington home with help of Hometown Floors and More.
These first few weeks have been very busy. I don't think we anticipated it being as busy as it has been these first few weeks.
Tyler Stugelmeyer
“Honestly, (we’ve wanted to do something different and new with our home) ever since we purchased our home about four and-a-half years ago,” McKenzie shared. “It's been quite some time, but we decided to finally do it just this past winter. We are having our first baby, so we decided it was time to get some updates done.”
She said their home is getting more than just a simple reflooring.
“We are completely remodeling our kitchen. We are demolishing a wall and then kind of gutting and starting over with cabinets, countertops,” Ferguson shared. "We also just completed our bathroom renovation, we just decided to gut it and start over. The same goes for a few of our closet systems, we’ve been gutting those and starting over just to update and then maximize that storage space. We’re also doing luxury vinyl planking throughout most of our upper level floors and then the bedrooms and a portion of our living area will be carpet.”
Contributed / Tyler Stugelmeyer
The installation of Onyx showers
Ferguson said going with Hometown Floors and More for their remodel was a choice that just felt right for them.
“We've actually known Tyler (Stugelmeyer) for a little while. He's a friend of ours, so working with him was really easy,” she said. “It was really nice just to feel like we were on a personal level with him. He was able to be very upfront with us and transparent about things and give us his professional opinion but then also, with him being a friend, he’s also been giving us his advice on what would be best from what he's seen professionally too.”
As the Fergusons’ next chapter in their life is just around the corner, McKenzie said the remodels will be beneficial to their growing family.
"We’re just looking for some better function with our spaces and having some updated things to better serve our growing family. Just having some updates to our home, I think, will serve us really well,” she shared. “On top of that, we’re looking at having some things that will help us navigate a baby; new flooring, new comfortable carpets and just some more open space with knocking down a wall in our main living area just to get some new lighting in. I think that'll be nice when you're home for a little bit with a new baby on the way.”
The right equipment readies you for spring weather
NAPSI — Weather is more unpredictable than ever before, and homeowners should take stock of the outdoor power equipment they have in their garages and sheds to handle ensuing damage left behind. Preparation is key — before a storm and unseasonable weather hits a community.
“Today it’s not enough to just prepare for each season. We’re seeing powerful storms in places that normally don’t get them — and too often leaving behind crippling damage,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). “Being equipped with the right outdoor power equipment is critical for when hurricane-force weather events bring water and wind, ice and snow put you at a standstill, and power goes out.”
To help people prepare, OPEI encourages homeowners to educate themselves by visiting WeatherItBetter.com, which includes tips on having the right outdoor power equipment, severe weather and emergency cleanup, and safety measures, such as:
• Have the right equipment on hand — before you need it. Acquire equipment based on weather, seasons and individual preferences
before an emergency arises.
• Know all equipment is not the same. Understand your equipment and its unique safety and usage requirements before using it. Review your owner’s manual and follow all instructions.
• Inspect equipment before use. Check the air filter, oil level, gas tank or batteries. Stored equipment should be put away without fuel in the tank. Watch for missing or damaged parts. Tighten chainsaw chains. Replace damaged parts or take equipment to a qualified service representative.
• Walk through your yard and work areas. Seek and remove objects, sticks, dog toys and other items that could create a hazard. Always keep children and pets away from running equipment. Hire a professional if a job is beyond your abilities.
• Never alter or disable equipment’s safety protection. Stay safe and follow the manufacturer’s safety measures at all times.
• Use fuel and batteries designed for the equipment. Use E10 or less in gasoline-powered equipment unless it’s designed otherwise. Only use batteries or chargers that are manufacturer-specified.
• Store fuel and batteries safely. Use containers designed for fuel and label them with the purchase date and ethanol content. Use up fuel before it’s 30 days old, and run equipment dry of fuel before storage.
• Keep battery packs away from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, or screws, that can make a connection from one terminal to another. Keep batteries stored away from one another.
• Clean equipment before storing. Remove dirt, oil or grass before using and storing equipment. Store it in a dry place, avoiding damp or wet environments.
• Plan ahead for safe placement of generators. Never place a generator in a home, garage, carport, or near an open window or door. Have on hand and use outdoor-rated power cords long enough to keep it a safe distance from the house.
For more information, visit opei.org. OPEI is an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles and golf cars.
The benefits of dethatching your yard
StatePoint — Dethatching your lawn has numerous benefits. But if you’re not sure what dethatching is or how to do it, you may be wondering if it’s really worth all the effort.
To shed light on dethatching, lawn care equipment manufacturer, Exmark is answering some frequently asked questions.
Q: What is thatch?
A: Thatch is a compacted layer of grass and plant stems, leaves, roots and other organic debris that builds up faster than it can decompose. It accumulates right below the surface of your lawn and right on top of the soil, at the base of your grasses’ blades. Overly thick thatch blocks water and fertilizer from reaching the grasses’ roots, causing them to be trapped and vulnerable to heat, drought and stress — further stunting your lawn’s health and growth. However, thatch isn’t always a bad thing
Q: When should you dethatch your lawn?
A: For warm-season grasses, it’s best to dethatch in the late spring or early summer, and for cool-season grasses it’s best to do it in early spring or fall. But before you start dethatching, mow your lawn to half its normal height to avoid tearing up any live grass in the process. Then, take out your rake or dethatcher and remove the thatch.
Q: How do you dethatch?
A: The process of dethatching is simple. You can purchase a specialized rake, but in a pinch, a regular rake will do. You can also rent a dethatcher to make the job even easier. Your lawn might look a bit ragged afterwards, so you’ll need to go over it again — this time just barely skimming the top of your lawn to remove all the loose debris that you just dug up. But before you start, call up your local utility company and have them mark any buried lines to avoid unwanted surprises.
Dethatching can be performed with a manual or powered rake, or a
and sunlight, helping carbon dioxide and key nutrients reach your grasses’ roots, resulting in deeper growth. It also encourages the effectiveness of fertilizers and reduces water pooling on the surface of your yard by facilitating drainage. And, it helps fight back against invasive weeds that thrive in conditions created by a heavy thatch layer. Best of all, it promotes an overall healthier, greener lawn.
For more insights, watch “The benefits of dethatching,” an episode of “Backyard
Smart,” an original series from lawn care equipment manufacturer, Exmark. To watch the video, visit Backyard Life, which is part of a unique multimedia destination with a focus on helping homeowners improve their outdoor living spaces. There you can also download additional tips and view other Exmark Original Series videos.
Now that you have the lowdown on dethatching, it’s time to get outside and free up your soil. Your lawn will thank you later.
Top backyarding trends for 2025
NAPSI —The popularity of backyarding will continue to increase in 2025, says the TurfMutt Foundation, which has encouraged outdoor living and caring for green spaces for the last 15 years. Backyarding is the act of moving everyday activities such as dining, entertaining, relaxing, and working to outdoor green spaces including family yards, parks, sports fields and other green areas.
Things are always changing economically, culturally, and in terms of what people prioritize in their lives; however, the importance of the family backyard and community parks remains consistent. People have come to appreciate the many health, well-being, environmental and economic benefits of the green space around us, and the TurfMutt Foundation says communities should be making it a greater priority.
Here are the top backyarding trends for 2025:
• T he need for urban backyarding will increase. Homebuyers moved to the suburbs in droves during the pandemic, but mandates to return to in-person workspaces continue driving people back to city centers. This means greater importance on making the most of small urban backyards, balconies, or patio gardens. There will also be an increased desire for “public backyarding” spaces, like neighborhood parks, pocket parks, community gardens, dog parks and more.
• Cities investing in green space will be sought after. Community investment in spaces for “public backyarding” as a keystone amenity has proven to produce happier residents. Green space makes cities more livable, creates wildlife habitats and improves environmental conditions within city corridors. The city of Louisville is ahead of this trend with Mulligan’s Bark Park and The
TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn, both in the city’s historic downtown.
• Outdoor activity areas will accommodate all ages. According to the National Association of Realtors, there are now more multi-generational households than ever before. This is largely because of the cost of homeownership and the need to pool money to afford housing. Other factors are an aging population that requires care or young adults “boomeranging” back home due to high housing costs. Backyards will be revamped for flexible activity zones that accommodate all manner of activities.
• Backyards will become wellness retreats. The focus on improving mental health in big and small ways will continue to gain steam in 2025, and the backyard and public green space will play a pivotal role. People will set up calming spaces in their yards to support a slower lifestyle, seek out opportunities to disconnect from technology, and reconnect to
the natural world right at their back door and in neighborhood parks.
• Pet-friendly spaces will level up. More than 66% of American households own a pet, and more millennials are choosing pets over having kids. Expect greater pet pampering in the backyard with water fountains, digging areas and at-home agility courses. Pet lovers also will seek out communities that cater to their canines with dog parks such as Mulligan’s Bark Park, agility courses, splash pads, pet-friendly shopping and dining corridors and more.
To learn more about the TurfMutt Foundation, download the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Backyarding Fact Book and sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation, visit TurfMutt.com. You can see Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show on Saturday mornings.
How to divide perennials in spring
Do you know why the flower went to the dentist? It needed a root canal.
Flowers don’t need dentists, of course, but humans do come in handy for other flower tasks. For example, most perennials thrive from being dug and divided occasionally, and spring is the preferred time for many types.
How do you know if perennials need dividing? If the center of the clump is bare and all the healthy growth is around the outer perimeter, the plant benefits from being dug and cut into sections and the healthy portions replanted.
If the perennial is no longer blooming the way it once did, dividing can reinvigorate the plant. Dividing perennials is also an effective way to propagate them, creating plants to share with others or expand the perennial bed.
Some perennials need dividing more frequently than others. Every two to three years, divide monarda, carnation, coral bells, delphinium, tall garden phlox, chrysanthemums and dianthus.
Every three to five years, divide astilbe, campanula, coneflower, daylily, lily and iris. Every five to 10 years, divide hosta.
Long-lived perennials like peony, bleeding heart and gas plant can remain in place for many decades as long as they are flowering abundantly.
Some perennial types don’t like being divided at all, including baby’s breath, Asclepias butterfly flower and Russian sage. Offshoots can be dug, but the original plant prefers to remain intact.
Some perennials are best divided in spring, and others in fall. Keeping them straight is easy if we remember one rule: divide perennials during the season opposite their bloom time.
For example, if perennial types bloom in spring or early summer, such as tulips, peonies, iris and bleeding heart, fall is the recommended time, usually in September.
If perennial types bloom in mid-summer or fall, then spring is the recommended dividing time, including hosta, tall garden phlox, daisies, monarda, chrysanthemum, sedum, ornamental grasses and many more.
Late April is a perfect window of opportunity to divide types that prefer spring division. If possible, wait until new growth is just beginning to emerge from the ground. At that stage, it’s easy to distinguish parts that are alive and will make better divisions.
If we delay too long and the plant becomes full-grown with fully developed leaves, division greatly disrupts the plant and its root system, causing greater transplant shock.
Following are the steps for successfully digging and dividing perennials in spring:
• Dig ging and dividing perennials is easier if the above-ground, dead tops that were left during winter are now removed, cutting the old stems down to about an inch above soil level. If new growth has started to emerge from ground level, take care not to interfere with the tender new plant shoots.
• With a spade or garden fork, begin digging around the perennial’s
perimeter, going down about the depth of the spade’s metal or the fork’s tines. Rooting depth and mass vary greatly with perennial type.
• Lift the entire clump out of the soil. With a sharp knife, saw or spade, cut down through the clump. The number of divisions will vary by the size of the original clump, but nearly all perennials can be divided into at least four divisions, sometimes six or eight.
• Don’t allow roots to dry out. Roots can quickly die if exposed to air for more than a minute or two. Wrap roots in moist burlap or plastic and replant quickly.
• T his is a great opportunity to incorporate additional organic material, such as compost or peat moss, into the planting hole, which almost all perennials love.
• Install perennial divisions at the same depth as they were originally growing. Groupings of three or five divisions create visual impact. Space appropriately, depending on the mature width of the perennial being divided.
• Water each newly planted division, which rehydrates the roots and settles the soil around the root system.
• If desired, apply shredded bark or other mulch around the perennials.
• Water-soluble fertilizer applied at planting time and again in May and June will provide nutrition for substantial growth and strong bloom. Depending on the plant size, most new divisions could use 1 to 2 gallons of fertilizer solution.
• If divisions were small or mediumsized, keeping flower buds removed during the first growing season allows all the energy to go into establishing the perennial for better bloom long term.
• Label each division using weatherproof material, if the cultivar is known.
Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.
Don
Chris Flynn / The Forum Many perennials can be divided in spring, as new growth is just starting. Start by cutting the dead tops.