Astilbe SOS

Help, fellow shadegardeners--

I divided a bunch of daylilies today and was so successful I decided that
tomorrow I should divide my astilbes. I have once before poked around
under the astilbes and it is really strange, with those woody lumps and
very few roots (if any). I grew intimidated and buried them again.

Could some experienced astilbe dividers kindly tell me (1) if this is
absolutely the wrong time of year to divide these plants and if so, what
month it should be done, and otherwise (2) how to go about it. Do I save
the lumps of wood, chop them up, or pitch them out? How many pieces should
the average astilbe end up in? (These are plants that have been in the
ground for years. They started as tiny plants from Dutch Gardens, but that
was years ago. I'm sure they need something by this time, but precisely
what? Besides, I have a friend who wants a start of one of them.) Thanks
for any help. I am totally ignorant about astilbes.

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington, IN
zone 5/6
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