Dividing a flax that's nearly as tall as me...

[heebiejeebie]

I'm helping out a couple of friends with some gardening. They have a large flax that needs dividing and replanting but I know next to nothing about how to deal with one that size. It is about 5ft high!

Anyone know how deep the roots grow? It's planted on rubble with shallow soil over the top.

[Flummery]

This is a phormium, I assume - a New Zealand Flax? I would think the old '2 garden forks back to back' trick would do it. Maybe 2 spades, you might need to chop though the roots.

[heebiejeebie]

That's the stuff! Sounds like a 2-person job. Thanks.