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Decatur, GA · Zone 8a · updated 2026-10-08 · first frost ≈ Nov 12 (average first frost, Decatur)

Divide, Split & Propagate

Early October is the second big propagation window of the year in Zone 8a: the soil is still warm, nights are cooling, and there are about five weeks until the average first frost. That is enough time for fall divisions to root in, and it is the last call for cuttings and seed from anything that dies at frost. This page lists every plant in the garden and says whether to divide it, split it, take cuttings, save seed, overwinter it — or leave it alone.

The short answer to "what can I split or save seed from right now". Only the plants that come back every year, grouped by what to do and when. Each line links to the full why-and-how.

Divide now

Oct 8 – 25

Warm soil and five weeks to frost: these root in before winter.

  • Oregano Dig, split into fist-sized pieces with roots, compost the dead center, replant 12 in apart.
  • Thyme Lift the mat and pull into rooted sections, or pin low stems and cut them free in March.
  • Garlic chives Cut to 3 in, dig, pull into clusters of 6–10 bulbs, replant 8 in apart. Bin the seed heads.
  • Evergreen bunching onion Pull the tillered clump apart; every rooted stalk is a plant. The seed-grown scallions are harvested, not divided.
  • Strawberry Move runner plantlets that already have white roots. Crown exactly at soil level.
  • Liriope Split into 3–5 fan pieces for edging; lift spicata runners to spread it.
  • Ornamental allium Lift and twist off the daughter bulbs, only if the clump is crowded or blooming poorly.
  • Peony Only if it needs it. 3–5 eyes per piece, eyes no deeper than 1 in. Expect no bloom in 2027.
  • Scabiosa Divide if the center has died; keep the outer rosettes.

Seed to collect now

October

Few perennials here are worth growing from seed; these are the ones.

  • Summer savory If it is the annual summer savory, cut the brown spikes into a paper bag. Winter savory is cuttings only.
  • Redbud Brown pods in October, hot-water soak, 8 weeks cold in the fridge, sow in March. Optional, but fun.
  • Garlic chives (do not keep) Plenty of seed, but it self-sows aggressively. Deadhead and bin it.

Ready for seed, but annual here

October

Not perennials, but they are ready right now and easy to miss.

  • Heirloom tomatoes Ferment 2–3 days, dry a week, envelope.
  • Peppers Seed from fully colored fruit only. Or pot up one jalapeño or cayenne to overwinter as a plant.
  • Okra Let 3–4 pods dry brown on one tagged plant.
  • Dill Cut brown umbels into a bag; scatter half back on the herb bag.

Wait: winter or spring

Dec 2026 – Mar 2027

Right plant, wrong month. Dividing these now sets them back or kills them.

  • Chives Plant the Pike clumps whole; divide March–April 2027.
  • September natives and grasses Lovegrass, shield fern, wild ginger, yarrow, penstemon, mistflower, nodding onion: March, mostly 2028.
  • Raspberry Cut spent canes now; dig suckers Dec–Feb.
  • Blueberry Hardwood cuttings in January.
  • Egyptian walking onion Plant any top-sets now; the clump needs 3–4 years before dividing.

Cuttings instead, this week

Oct 8 – 20

Woody herbs and the new shrubs propagate by cuttings, not seed or division.

Dated reminders for all of this are on the calendar (tasks pg-1 to pg-9). Garlic planting, feeding and harvest details live in the Fall / Winter plan.