Dividing oregano plant

DrTrish · November 19, 2016

Hi all! I have an established oregano plant that has been in my garden for three years now, and that sucker is HUGE!!! We're talking 2 1/2' tall and about 3 1/2' wide. I have done some research on splitting it in the spring, but most sites say to lift the entire plant and divide it from there. With the plant being so huge that is going to be a difficult job. Can I just run a spade shovel down the center of the plant and dig up one side, or is that too harsh for this type of plant? I don't want to risk permanent damage to the plant, but its running out of room where it is.

kayrobbins · November 19, 2016

I have done it both ways and have never had any trouble. When I grow it in a pot I do dump the whole plan and divide it. If you lift some of the outer edges of the plant you can can probably see where you can take sections of the outer edges of to get new plants. That is less drastic than cutting into the center. You will likely have lots of baby plants to share with garden friends.

kurt · November 19, 2016

I have some that run on the ground.If I need a new growth I will lift some up(as mentioned above),place some medium filled smaller peatpots and let the plant root into it,then cut and remove for new plant(s).Works well with the mints that crawl.A large plant as yours would not suffer,but the appearance of a half moon(until it grows back)might even take some time to reset again.

greenthumbomaha · November 19, 2016

I'm just curious if it reseeds freely. Could the size be new seedlings from reseeding around the outside? I met a lady at a garden center that said she has oregano in places she never planted it. Mine sole plant is in a triangle next to the driveway so it stays contained. I'd love more oregano.

- Lisa

b54red · December 1, 2016

I had an oregano plant started in one of my regular garden beds and that was a big mistake. The thing just spread and spread and spread. I finally just scooped out a section along the edge with my shovel and planted it in a large pot and it has done fine. The rest I had to dig out to get rid of it before I had enough for half of Italy.

Bill

Salsacharley · December 1, 2016

My experience is like Bill's. My oregano grows like a weed and spreads. If it weren't for the worse spreading vinca infesting it, it would really go crazy. My plant size is nowhere as big as DrTrish's.

November 19, 2016	#1
DrTrish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: northcentral IN Posts: 29	Dividing oregano plant Hi all! I have an established oregano plant that has been in my garden for three years now, and that sucker is HUGE!!! We're talking 2 1/2' tall and about 3 1/2' wide. I have done some research on splitting it in the spring, but most sites say to lift the entire plant and divide it from there. With the plant being so huge that is going to be a difficult job. Can I just run a spade shovel down the center of the plant and dig up one side, or is that too harsh for this type of plant? I don't want to risk permanent damage to the plant, but its running out of room where it is.

November 19, 2016	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	I have some that run on the ground.If I need a new growth I will lift some up(as mentioned above),place some medium filled smaller peatpots and let the plant root into it,then cut and remove for new plant(s).Works well with the mints that crawl.A large plant as yours would not suffer,but the appearance of a half moon(until it grows back)might even take some time to reset again. __________________ KURT

November 19, 2016	#2
kayrobbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 820	I have done it both ways and have never had any trouble. When I grow it in a pot I do dump the whole plan and divide it. If you lift some of the outer edges of the plant you can can probably see where you can take sections of the outer edges of to get new plants. That is less drastic than cutting into the center. You will likely have lots of baby plants to share with garden friends.

November 19, 2016	#4
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I'm just curious if it reseeds freely. Could the size be new seedlings from reseeding around the outside? I met a lady at a garden center that said she has oregano in places she never planted it. Mine sole plant is in a triangle next to the driveway so it stays contained. I'd love more oregano. - Lisa

December 1, 2016	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I had an oregano plant started in one of my regular garden beds and that was a big mistake. The thing just spread and spread and spread. I finally just scooped out a section along the edge with my shovel and planted it in a large pot and it has done fine. The rest I had to dig out to get rid of it before I had enough for half of Italy. Bill

December 1, 2016	#6
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	My experience is like Bill's. My oregano grows like a weed and spreads. If it weren't for the worse spreading vinca infesting it, it would really go crazy. My plant size is nowhere as big as DrTrish's.