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Dividing — separting a plant into several smaller new plants — works well for increasing groundcovers, clump-forming, perennials, bulbs, and tubers. You can also divide ornamental grasses and suckering shrubs, as well as houseplants and herbs.
Here is Lisa Gabory, Gardener, who works at Rodale's Working Tree Center showing you how to divide hostas.
Season: The best time to divide garden plants is when they are dormant. In general, divide spring- and summer-blooming plants in the fall, and fall-blooming plants in the spring.
Getting Started: The key to division is starting with a vigorous parent plant. If the soil is dry, water the plant throughly the day before. Whenever possible, wait for cool, cloudy weather (or at least evening) to reduce moisture loss from the plant during the process.
Method: Lift from the soil with a fork or spade. Seperate clumps by pulling off the vigorous young plantlets; discard the woody center growth. Make sure that each piece you remove has it's own root system. Otherwise, new divisions won't grow.
Aftercare: Replant divisions as quickly as possible, to the same depth as the original plant, and water them thoroughly. Mulch fall divisions well to protect the developing roots from frost.
