Splitting a gunnera

hogweed

I have a Gunnera next to my pond. It is not manicata but it's slightly smaller brother - still reaches 5-6 feet in the summer. It has grown too big so I need to remove a portion of it. Now the bit above ground is rock hard and I wonder how best to tackle it. I wondered if a lump hammer and bolster would be the way to go - or perhaps a very sharp pruning saw. I have no idea what the inside of the outside would look like and its components. Or even what it's root system would be like. 
Has anyone tried this before? Any tips?

Marran

I have today almost halved my gunnera.  (Have a look in "The Potting Shed" -"done any gardening today" ..

My gunnera is in a bog garden which has pieces of liner in the bottom so I knew it shouldn't have gone through that.  You need a strong spade and dig into the edges of it then stab the spade across it if you can.  It's tough.  Then lever the piece up there are long narrow roots along the growing block which you need to sever.   Good luck - don't break your spade!!

Marran

I did try a pruning saw a couple of weeks back and it was hopeless!

hogweed

Mine is huge!! And feels rock hard. I am going to have to cut it with something as I don't have enough weight to put behind my spade to chop it. Even if it would chop with a spade. Hm - may have to call on a bloke!

Hostafan1

I moved a chunk of mine last year. It was about the size of a supermarket carrier bag and was so dense it was almost too heavy for me to lift. I used a spade and got it in, and basically jumped on it until it went through. 

hogweed

Thank you. I will let you know how I get on!