How to Split Hydrangeas

Water the soil around your hydrangea the day before you want to split it without soaking it so much that the ground will still be saturated the next day.

Dig straight down with your shovel starting a foot away from the base of the plant and working your way all the way around to loosen the soil. Dig down by a foot to 18 inches. Work toward the root ball of your hydrangea as you dig.

Work to free the roots of the plant as much as possible without severing them as you dig closer toward the plant. Raise the root ball from the ground after you have loosened all the way around it.

Select the area of the root ball’s middle where you want to divide. A smaller plant should be split in half while larger hydrangeas can be split more than once. Put the blade of the shovel up to your selected point and push downward to pierce through the roots.

Spread the root ball as needed and continue to push the blade of the shovel through until the two plants are now independent of one another. Divide these two portions into smaller units if you have a larger plant.

Plant each new division into its own hole using compost as a filler if needed to secure the plant or replace clay or sandy soils. Spread 1 to 2 inches deep of mulch over the newly planted hydrangeas to keep weeds away and protect the roots from sun damage. Water two to three times a week for the first month.