David:

Feel free to hack away...it sounds like you have a ti plant Coryline fruticosa. You can separate them, but be prepared for leaf die back if yoo disturb too much of the roots and soil. If your soil is warm enough, you can even cut the logs (trunks) into 4" sections, lay them right below the soil and get about three new plants coming out.

But if they are slow, or your soil is cool, just separate, pot them in a moisture-retentive (but well draining mix) and water deeply for the first few days. The leaves will probably die, but with weeks, you'll get new buds and even doubles coming off of one trunk. If you want tip branching, hack off the top at a 45 degree angle, and you'll also get trunking.

The key is warm soil and some humidity and your ti plants will look great.

Good luck.

spectre