When to divide oregano | Simple tips to divide herbs successfully

The best times to divide oregano is in the milder seasons of spring and fall. In spring the plant will be in its full growth phase so can rapidly recover and reproduce. Oregano can also be divided in fall before the plant goes dormant over the winter.

This article will explore all you need to know about when to divide oregano, the best time to divide them and tips for success.

A new oregano plant divided from the mother plant.

The best time to divide oregano

Here are my tips for the two best times to divide oregano and replant them in pots or in the ground. Spring and fall offer the perfect weather and growing conditions to divide and replant oregano.

Dividing oregano in spring

Spring is the perfect time to divide oregano plants. These plants are in their growth phase, will be ready to grow new stems, roots and they will recover very quickly when divided. You can divide a small bunch of oregano into 2-3 pieces by pulling the plant apart and replanting in the ground or potting soil in pots.

The warmer weather of spring but prior before it gets too hot in summer offers the best conditions to regrow oregano.

Oregano is a tough Mediterranean herb but they will need regular water to recover in the first week. I watered my oregano everyday for the first 5 days after replanting to keep it growing. It would start to droop by the end of the day but would stand back up after watering.

Dig out a large enough piece of oregano plant that has a healthy root system.

Dividing oregano fall

Fall is a fantastic time to divide oregano before the weather gets cold over winter. While the growth of oregano will start to slow as the weather cools and winter arrives you can still get the plant established during this time.

Planting and dividing oregano in fall is a great idea as you can set the plants up to establish their roots so they will be ready to burst into rapid growth in spring.

Don’t worry if it seems that the oregano plant is not growing very much. This is quite normal and the roots will be establishing themselves. You can trim back long stems to help the oregano establish. Water it well and you will have new plants from your original.

How to divide oregano the easy way

Oregano plans are the perfect ground cover and will slowly work its way across the ground. While this is not an invasive plant, it will expand and grow and give you an opportunity to divide the plant and make more.

Growing oregano from seed takes a long time so it is much quicker to grow new plants by splitting your original plant. Here are my top tips to divide oregano the easy way.

1. Split the plant using a sharp spade or your hands

By the time your oregano plant is 4 inches across you have the opportunity to split the plant using a sharp spade or your hands. For oregano in the ground you can simply take your spade, dig out a piece and plant it in the ground somewhere else.

If you have an oregano in a pot you can tip it out, split it with your hand into pieces. Make sure the plant has a good portion of healthy roots. Take care not to tear the roots and damage them too much.

It is best to keep the oregano in pieces that are at least 2 inches across. This will give them a large enough root system to survive the transplant.

Choose a healthy piece of oregano to transplant and divide from the main plant.

2. Plant into good soil

Another key tip to grow new oregano plants that have been divided is to plant them in good soil. If you are transplanting oregano into the ground improve the soil by digging in aged cow manure and compost if you have it.

When planting oregano into pots a premium potting soil works well. Choose a regular soil or one designed for vegetable gardens. This will be well-draining and a fantastic base for your new divided oregano plant.

3. Water it well

The next important step to keep an oregano plant alive is to water the plant well after it has been transplanted. Oregano can need water everyday for the first 3-4 days to keep them alive after being transplanted.

The new plant will wilt quickly if it is not getting enough water. I watered the oregano that I had split each day for the first 4 days and it then was ready to go a few days between watering.

If the oregano is left to dry out it can die quickly and it will be the main reason why oregano will not survive being split.

If you place them into good quality soil, water them well and place them in a part sun position to begin with you will have a new plant from your original for free.

Look at the base of the oregano to see the best place to split and divide the plant. Choose a piece that can be separated without damaging too many stems.

Should you cut back oregano after you divide it?

Cutting back oregano after you divide it can help it to recover from the move. While this is not always necessary and the plant can be moved without removing leaves. This is up to you and is a good opportunity to take the leaves and dry them ready for your cooking.

The oregano plant will rapidly replace them in spring. Add a handful of pelleted chicken manure around the oregano after a week to give it a boost of nutrients to support new leaf growth. After you have transplanted oregano you can slow down the watering.

Remember that oregano is a Mediterranean herb so will grow well if it is allowed to dry out between watering.

When to divide oregano | Summary

Divide oregano in spring and fall to create new plants from a single plant for free. Oregano will need regular water after it has been transplanted to keep it alive for the first few days. You can then reduce the amount of water you are giving the plant and it will be happy.

Oregano is a rewarding plant to grow that can be divided each year if it is growing well. You can double or quadruple your oregano plants and have enough to give to friends and family as great gifts.

For more on oregano, check out my previous article here:

Oregano Plant Care | The Easy Guide