I think you'll find this a tough plant no matter how you handle it. You'll probably need a chainsaw to cut the root system apart when you re-pot it after using a hammer and chisel to get it out of the current container. If I were going to re-pot mine, I'd start by cutting it off at soil level so I could get at the root mass easier. When those roots settle in to their new home, they will begin to put out new growth. By the end of the season you will probably be back to at least the same growth as when you started and possibly more. That's been my experience. I see you are in Zone 8a which is not too far off my zone. In Florida and warmer climates the asparagus ferns can be a big problem if they escape their container. I think you probably get enough cold winter temps that it wouldn't be a problem. Mine is in a huge clay pot and I managed to get it outside a bit early last year where it got bitten by frost a couple of times and badly sunburned. I cut all but about 6 of the 'fronds' off. You can see it here in June. It recovered nicely. This actually is only half of what was the original plant which I'd chiseled out of a cast iron pot and took an axe and chopped in two parts before stowing it away for the winter. You get the idea, I guess
. I did managed to rot one of the halves by forgetting I'd sat it a pail of water where it remained for a week or more.
