Different soil?

It could be the soil moisture content - damp or wetter soils hold together belter than dry or very sandy soils. Or it might be the nature of the plant itself. Perennials with a spreading or rhizomatous nature will often break into clumps when being dug, transplanted or divided.

It's not a real concern.

Its been so wet here with heavy rains every week. Soil was nice and moist but not soggy when dug it out. And I actually transplanted the same sanguisorba from my dads house and it was a nice neat clump then. I divided it too and I had to by sawing it through, thats how hard and intact it was. Same with the aconitum, I transplanted here from my dads house. What I did notice was those plants would experience severe dieback in the summer the past 2 seasons as soon as they start flowering. They come back in the spring just fine though. Could it maybe be related to that?

I think both floral and gardengal have said what I am thinking. I have both plants that you mentioned which are affected, and they do similarly for me. I almost consider them clumps of multiple plants, rather than one single plant; so when you have loose, sandy soil they just easily pull apart. Makes for very simple dividing!

why havent i seen this is 28 days...

whenever i dug up a mature clump ... of anything... .. i broke it into pieces... its a rejuvenation process ... and it got me pieces i could spread around the yard.. and i also had a gift nursery.. where i would throw the ugly ones.. and a yer later i would give them away as gifts. or donate them to plant sales...

i cant really conceptualize moving all perennials intact ... maybe i am missing something here ..

and.. btw.. in my sand here.. i could not dig a clump if i wanted to...

finally.. often there is dead or decaying material in the old clump.. and its helps the plants to clean them up during the process ...

ken

Different soil. different moisture content, different root behaviour. Nothing to stress over.