It's a jungle out there

Happy Fourth everyone! Deer, slugs, snails, overgrown plants - I need to be ever vigilant out there. Never had so many problems before with deer. They've been nibbling away at my hydrangeas (I was wondering why the shrub kept getting smaller this time of year!) alstroemeria, hostas, geraniums - oh you get the idea.

With the mulching and fertilizing, (amazingly enough!) my plants are getting out of control. I know July isn't the greatest time of year to move around plants, and it depends on the bloom time for some perennials, but I've got to at least remove some of their girth.

I would think that dividing some persicaria and Autumn Joy sedum wouldn't be a problem. I would also like to re site some acanthus. It's never bloomed in its present location. Anyone else had success in moving plants this time of year? Thanks!

I move plants most anytime of year, but during the warm season it is best to wait till evening just before a cooler day. If you are able to take all or most of the rootball the plant may not even know it has been moved..and plenty water of course

Thanks, Linda! That's what the gardener at Harmony Hill does also. She told me that planting potted plants was okay, but most perennials should wait until fall. But sometimes I can't wait that long - the plants I divided look bedraggled of course, but show no sign of dying.

But now I have the divisions potted up, because of course I can't throw away a perfectly good plant, which means the pot ghetto has grown again.

I'm with Linda, I move plants any ol' time they need it, and have had surprisingly little problem with it - if I'm consistent with the water of course.

Speak not of pot ghettos, mine is giving me much guilt right now...

I too find I can transplant in the PNW in summer, just need to be careful to water occasionally. I have even done it with things like columbine, which people say are hard to transplant anytime. Usually I put a plastic lawn chair over it for a few days to keep the sun off, which looks pretty bad but works great. Go for it!

mlm,
Good idea about the chair. Where are you about in lake stevens? I'm not far from Safeway.

Ann Lovejoy suggests the same thing - using a screen or other object to provide shade. I haven't tried it yet, but it does make sense. Thanks!

I can never move anything after June here in Montana. If I need to I place them in pots and "nurse" them to health in my shaded nursery area. Then plant in October after they have gone dormant. But I don't live in the plant heaven of Pac NW.

Hi Springcolor-I live on the hill up from South Davies Road, about half a mile from the boat launch. There are some nice gardens to look at around here. My personal "most improved" yard award this year goes to the little green house opposite thefire station on Chapell Hill Road, which used to look like an abandoned chicken coop, and now is nice to look at.
Today I planted a bunch of bearded iris. I always thought they were supposed to be hard, but I noticed some beautiful ones thriving in DRY SHADE near here, and they are completely neglected.
I also planted some heather, since I am replacing things that died this winter with other plants that got through it fine. I ordered a boxful of iris from Schreiners in Oregon. Also I planted a Mukdenia which somehow snuck into my cart, hopefully it will live.

I'm on North Davies 3 blocks down from safeway.