Beginner Gardening: dig it up and replant?, 1 by Sarahskeeper

Sarahskeeper wrote:
Janie, I did the same thing this Spring. A complete re-planting of an old perennial bed.
My first suggestion is to make a written inventory of what you want to keep, with notes (height, width, color and time of bloom, etc.).
Figure out how much space each plant or group will need in 2 years.
Work on only one bed at a time, September is good for most perennials, not all.
Set up a holding area for the keepers, either a shady trench or pots.
Check with your local recycling about free compost. Then check the compost itself, you don't want a lot of rocks or glass in it. If it looks OK, grab twice as much as you think you will need. Figure on at least 2 inches thick over the entire bed.
Sphagnum Peat moss is nice for water retention but it has little nutrient value.
Composted manure is good but can be expensive in bags, can you get some in bulk from a local farm or yard center.
Once you have everything, start digging. Keep the plants wet and prune the herbaceous ones to half their size, put them in the holding pen.
Clear out everything, till deeply, add all your amendments, till again and re-plant the keepers. Water well, twice.
Nothing to it, LOL. A few blisters, cuss words and a sore back for a few days.
Andy P
My little garden went from this.