What's the earliest I can dig up a new culm as a division?

[RazinCane]

I agree waiting is better but not always an option, in my case I wanted them out of the bed before the Spectabilis encroached on them any further and started mixing rhizomes. He wanted to know how soon he could move them and as long as they're moved to shade and watered regularly, moving as soon as they're leafed out has worked for me.

[sully0family]

I'm bringing back an old but good question. I have been confused on the best time to divide: Growth year,first,year, or second year. I want to divide my yellow that is on the property line and has been in the ground for 18 months. For future reference, is it alright to divide a newly grown culm, or is it best to dig closer to the mother?

[needmore]

I generally wait until year 4 to dig unless there is a WAY out of bounds candidate. I dig in early spring b4 shooting season and aim for the previous years outer-edge culms. Then perhaps again in September I may dig again. I mainly dig single-culm divisions unless the obvious rootball has to contain more than one culm.

[Alan_L]

To reiterate what Brad always says: if your goal is to have the parent plant spread quickly, size up fast, etc. then don't take *any* divisions or prune anything living out for at least the first two years. Rhizome prune if you need to control the spread, but know that it's going to set back the plant somewhat in that first couple years.