Viewing post #614869 by crittergarden

crowrita1 said:If the "mother "rhizome is healthy ( not starting to soften, and still growing good foliage) it will push out some increase, even after being transplanted. You can tell when it is at the end of it's" reproductive life, and usefulness", by the condition of the roots. A Viable rhizome will still have healthy roots, directly under the "fan" of leaves. As you look at the roots farther down the rhizome (away from the fan) you will notice the roots decrease in "health and vigor" , first dry and withered, moving to just a few dried out husks, and finally to only the pores where the roots used to be. This is usually th e area where the rhizome itself is getting totally dried out, often leaving only a hollow "husk"....Arlyn

Thank you - I definitely WILL leave them until year 2 then.
I knew about the roots, bu was wanting to not dig them all the way out.
I will leave them over the following winter and THEN hori-hori them out.


Productive learning happened here!