How to Divide Rosemary Shrubs and Roots

Rosemary shrubs require little maintenance once they're established and fully mature, which is one of their most endearing traits. However, overgrown rosemary shrubs benefit from occasional division to improve their appearance and overall health. Dividing rosemary shrubs is different from dividing other perennial plants because the divisions are removed from the outer edge of the plant instead of splitting the whole plant into portions. However, it's nonetheless a simple task to accomplish and requires little more than a gardening trowel or knife.

Gardening trowel or knife
6-inch plastic pot
Garden soil

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a small offshoot for division at the edge of the rosemary shrub. Find one that is growing at least two inches from the main body of the parent plant.
- 2
  Insert a gardening trowel or knife into the soil between the offshoot and parent plant. Press the blade into the soil to a depth of five inches.
- 3
  Work the blade of the gardening trowel or knife around the offshoot. Cut a 3-inch diameter circle around the base of the offshoot.
- 4
  Press the blade of the gardening trowel or knife at an angle under the rosemary division. Pry the rosemary division from the soil.
- 5
  Crumble off some of the soil from around the roots of the rosemary division. Be careful not to break off too many of the roots because they're fragile.
- 6
  Pot the rosemary division into a 6-inch plastic pot filled with garden soil. Hold the division in the pot so the base of the stem is a quarter-inch below the edge of the pot. Backfill around the roots with garden soil until the pot is filled.
- 7
  Water the rosemary division with a 1/2 cup of water after potting it. Water it with a 1/2 cup of water once a week thereafter. Avoid overwatering the division because it will be more likely to rot.
- 8
  Transplant the rosemary division into a permanent garden bed once the roots have regenerated and the stems show signs of renewed growth, which takes approximately four months.

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