With fall here, you may see summer perennials such as daylilies, hostas and daisies that are too large. Or, maybe they don't produce abundant blooms.

The solution is to divide them to keep their size in control, to get new plants and to rejuvenate tired plants.

If perennials are spring bloomers, fall is the time to divide them and replant them in new spaces — or give them to friends. The new plants will have several months to establish healthy roots before they have to flower again.

Fall bloomers are divided in spring.

Ann Weber, horticulturist at Smithfield Gardens in Suffolk, Va., offers these tips:

4 Dig. Use a hand rake to pull the soil back from around the plant, then use a sharp digging tool to dig around the rootball, keeping it intact.

4 Get the rootball. Lift the plant on the shovel and use gloved hands or a water hose to remove excess soil around the roots so you can easily see where to divide them.

4 Divide. Use a serrated knife — dollar stores are great sources for these — to make a partial cut through the rootball. Avoid hacking or sawing motions because you want to keep the important small feeder roots intact as much as possible.

4 Replant divisions. Dig a generous hole and work organic matter into your soil. Use cheap scissors to cut back foliage on all divisions so the plant puts its energy into establishing and making new roots instead. Plant a little on the high side, especially daylilies and other perennials susceptible to root rot. Firm the soil, mulch and water them.

4 Water eliminates air pockets and helps plants settle like they should.