SOME plants are more tricky to manage than others - not that they are especially demanding and difficult but rather, they expect a little attention at particular times. The primrose family is a case in point. One year there may be a happy, thriving clump of primroses or primulas of one variety or another, a year or two later it is on the wane and then quickly disappears.
The primula family likes to keep on the move and likes nice conditions. A clump can quickly exhaust the nourishment in a patch of ground so it needs division and replanting every two or three years. Kept vigorous and healthy, primulas are more likely to survive attacks from predators like vine weevil. I avoid writing too much about enemies like the vine weevil - who among us needs to be constantly reminded of the bad news?
Now is the time to divide primulas - pulling clumps apart and planting out individual plants. Ideally, they like to move into new ground and get settled in while the growing conditions are still good.
Not many gardeners can afford the luxury of creating new places and rearranging matters just to suit the primulas so if they must be divided and replanted in their old home, try to change some of the soil and ensure to enrich the ground with well rotted manure or garden compost. (Avoid using an excess of peat as the vine weevil loves a peaty place.)