How to divide lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 23 September 2019 at 9:32 am

We show you how to divide lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) in three quick steps.

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Lady's mantle (Alchemilla) is robust perennial, valued for its drought-tolerance and ground cover capabilities.

To save you having to fork out on new plants, it's well worth dividing lifting and dividing existing clumps in the garden to produce new plants. This easy process can be carried out on other spring- and summer-flowering perennials, including hemerocallis, bearded irises and hardy geraniums.

For more perennials to divide in autumn, check out this video with Carol Klein on dividing herbaceous perennials.

Discover how to lift and divide lady's mantle, below.

You Will Need

Garden spade
Organic matter (e.g. well-rotted manure)

Step 1

Cut through the roots around the edge of the clump, then lever from the soil. Chop the clump into smaller pieces, each with roots and leaves attached.

Step 2

Adding organic matter around the newly planted lady's mantle

Fork through and improve soil before planting each division. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots and plant at the same level that is was growing before.

Step 3

Watering the newly planted lady's mantle

Firm the soil around the roots, pressing down to get rid of air pockets. Water thoroughly.

Further flushes

Like hardy geraniums, lady's mantle can be cut back in mid to late summer after the first flush of flowers and foliage, to produce fresh growth. After cutting back, give them a good feed, for example with a comfrey feed.