Moving Bleeding Heart

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Dragonflys4me (Chris), IA(Zone 5a) Jul 30, 2015

Hi, I've made up my mind that I have 2 plants in the wrong areas and want to exchange them - putting a butterfly bush in full sun (mostly shade right now) and a bleeding heart from the almost full sun to the mostly shade.

Question: Is there a time of year that the bleeding heart should be moved? Are they finicky about their roots being moved around?

I'd like to do it now before the worst heat of the summer starts - am I safe to do so?
Thanks!

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 30, 2015

I would sure avoid the worst of the summer heat. Given that most of Florida is mild year round, I think I would try to do this in fall. This would give the plants all winter to re-establish roots in their new locations.

For the rest of the summer, perhaps shade the bleeding heart with a cloth, a tent, or an arch of branches or something similar.

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Dragonflys4me (Chris), IA(Zone 5a) Jul 31, 2015

Thanks for your reply, but my garden is in Iowa - I'm only in FL during the Iowa winter months :)

We've had a very mild summer here so far, that's why I was wanting to move it now before the heat does come. There's rain in the forecast just about very other day, so I think I may bite the bullet and try it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained lol

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 31, 2015

Get as much root and soil mass as you can, and perhaps trim the top to compensate for any root damage done.

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Pistil Lake Stevens, WA(Zone 8a) Jul 31, 2015

I sometimes (OK, often) plant things or move them in the summer. Of course, usually it is mild here in Seattle.
The bleeding heart will be going from sun to shade, so extra protection is not needed, just water. The butterfly bush will be going into full sun, which might cause sunburn. If not too tall, I often "shade" shrubs for several weeks using a tall garbage bin which is about 4.5 feet tall. If you put it close, on the west side, it gives afternoon shade. Then move it further away by a few inches every few days. This allows the leaves to toughen up while it is growing new roots. When I put a perennial out in summer, I often use a plastic chair over it for the same reasons. Some vigorous shrubs (possibly butterfly bushes are like this) can be pruned much shorter at time of transplanting- this reduces the number of leaves for water loss. Since butterfly bushes sprout up every year anyway, it would only look bad this year.

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Jul 31, 2015

Good points by Pistil.
Yes, Buddleja grows really well if it is cut back.

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