The hosta plant is quite easy to divide, transplanting at the appropriate time is important. The hosta plant is easily shared with neighbors and friends. Hosta division should be done when no shoots are growing from the center of the mature clump. You can divide later but you will improve the initial plant appearance after transplanting. Lift the entire hosta clump and wash the soil from the roots. After the soil is removed it is easier to to see where to cut a divide the clump. Use a sharp knife to divide the roots, place the divided plants in their planting holes and keep them well watered for the first 2 weeks.

I have observed my wife divide hostas with a sharp spade and then remove 1/2 of the plant and fill dirt around the part that is left in the original hole. Those plants survived and appear to be doing very well. In fact they look just as good as the ones she divided with the sharp knife method.

Early spring is a good time for dividing hostas because the new shoots are very small and the leaves are not fully expanded. The leaves of the newly transplanted plants may wilt during the day but if they are adequately watered but they will quickly recover as the roots develop. Late summer is also a good time to divide the hosta. The warm soils in August will promote quick root growth, but you can expect a lot of leaf wilt in warm weather. Keep the transplanted plants well watered.